Explore the Best State-Approved Online RN to BSN Programs in Wisconsin

If you’re already working as a nurse but want to take your career to the next level, upgrading your ADN to a BSN can open doors to leadership roles and higher pay. Wisconsin’s public universities offer flexible, affordable online RN to BSN programs built for nurses balancing work and family. This guide explores the top programs in Wisconsin and covers what you need to know about admissions, cost, and graduation timelines.

The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:

Author: Cody DeBos, RN, BSN

Healthcare EducationNursingPediatric Nursing

Editor: Jordan Cosselman

Healthcare EducationOnline Learning

Updated: 08/31/2026

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Degree Details
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School Spotlights: Inside Online RN to BSN Programs in Wisconsin

Online RN to BSN programs are built around the realities of a full-time nursing schedule. Coursework is often delivered asynchronously, allowing you to log in between shifts rather than sitting in a virtual classroom at scheduled times.

That said, “online” doesn’t mean hands-off. To earn your BSN, you’ll still need to complete an in-person clinical rotation or capstone project at a healthcare facility near you. This could be your current workplace or a site coordinated by your school.

The three programs below show how much variation exists across Wisconsin’s online RN to BSN offerings. As you consider where to apply, consider factors like timeline, cost, and course format.

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

UW-Milwaukee’s RN to BSN program consists of a 120-credit curriculum that emphasizes leadership, community health, research, and healthcare technology. This structure prepares nurses to address challenges in modern healthcare and provide holistic care for patients across populations.

Students can choose between two formats:

The standard BSN@Home track with asynchronous online courses each term.
The UW Flex Option, which is entirely self-paced and competency-based.

Every student finishes the program with a quality improvement capstone project in their current workplace, offering an opportunity to improve processes in a real healthcare setting.

Duration: 12 to 24 months (or less with the self-paced option)

Mode: Fully online and asynchronous

Cost: $1,125 per course (or $2,250 for a three-month all-you-can learn option)

Admissions Requirements:

Completed online application
ADN or nursing diploma
Minimum 2.5 GPA
Current, unencumbered nursing license (or current enrollment in an ADN program)
Official transcripts for all post-secondary coursework

University of Wisconsin – Green Bay

Another affordable state-based option, UW-Green Bay’s RN to BSN program is one of Wisconsin’s longest-running online completion options. Coursework is delivered asynchronously in seven- and 14-week formats across three terms in the fall, spring, and summer. Most students complete the program in 15 to 20 months.

Students with past college coursework can finish even faster thanks to a generous transfer policy that allows up to 90 credits to count toward their BSN degree. The one in-person requirement is a community health practicum, which the school arranges at an agency in the student’s local area.

Nurses already working with partner health systems, such as Advocate Aurora Heath, may qualify for additional tuition support.

Duration: 15 to 20 months

Mode: Fully online coursework with one in-person practicum

Cost: $452 per credit hour

Admissions Requirements:

Completed online application
ADN or nursing diploma
Minimum 2.5 GPA
Current, unencumbered nursing license
Official transcripts for all post-secondary coursework

Herzing University

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Herzing University offers a unique RN to BSN program that skips traditional clinicals altogether. Instead, students complete a 45-hour community health project in their own community.

The 120-credit curriculum covers evidence-based practice, community health, and nursing leadership across classes delivered in eight-week sessions. Students can transfer in up to 70 credits from their ADN or diploma program, with the possibility to transfer up to 20 additional credits.

By maxing out transfer credits, it’s possible to complete the program in just 12 months.

Students can also aim higher with Herzing’s RN to BSN to MSN track to earn dual credit towards a master’s degree.

Duration: As little as 12 months

Mode: Fully online

Cost: $450 per credit hour

Admissions Requirements:

Completed online application
ADN or nursing diploma
Current, unencumbered nursing license (conditional admission available for those waiting to take the NCLEX)
Official transcripts for all post-secondary coursework
Must live in a state eligible for enrollment (including Wisconsin)

FAQs for Wisconsin RN to BSN Students

Are RN to BSN programs in Wisconsin available in a 100% online format?

Yes. Wisconsin has several RN to BSN programs, both through its well-respected public universities and private institutions, that deliver all coursework online. That said, nursing program accreditors require every RN to BSN program to include a hands-on component.

You should expect to complete either clinicals or a capstone/community health practicum in your local area.

How affordable are online RN to BSN programs in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin’s RN to BSN programs are in the middle of the affordability spectrum compared to other schools across the country.

Most programs cost between $250 and $600 per credit hour, and Wisconsin’s sit in the $400 to $450 range.

Since most applicants transfer in a large block of credits from their ADN program, total costs are often a fraction of what a traditional four-year degree would cost. Many students also have access to tuition reimbursement from their employer if they are actively working as a nurse.

How long will it take me to finish my online RN to BSN program in Wisconsin?

Timelines for completing an online RN to BSN program vary, but most can be finished in under two years. With a significant number of transfer credits, it’s possible to complete some programs in as little as 12 to 14 months.

Some programs, including UW-Milwaukee’s Flex Option, offer a self-paced, competency-based track on top of the standard online format. This offers working nurses maximum flexibility for completing their degree without giving up their source of income.

What are the typical admissions requirements for Wisconsin online RN to BSN programs?

Across Wisconsin’s RN to BSN programs, admissions requirements are fairly consistent. At any program, you’ll need to have an ADN or nursing diploma from an accredited program. Most, but not all, schools have a modest GPA requirement in the 2.5 range.

A current, unencumbered RN license is also mandatory, though some schools allow conditional admission while you’re waiting for your NCLEX test date. If admitted this way, you’ll need to earn your license typically during the first term, whether that be eight weeks or a traditional semester.

Is it worth pursuing a BSN in Wisconsin if I already have my ADN?

For most working RNs, yes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for RNs in the U.S. is $93,600 per year. However, BSN-prepared nurses often make between $10,000 to $20,000 more than their ADN counterparts. In addition, a BSN is also increasingly favored by employers for charge nurse, case management, and other leadership roles.

Should you wish to continue your education later, a BSN is also required for admission to graduate level nursing programs like an MSN or DNP.

Salary Comparison: ADN vs. BSN in Wisconsin

Show entries

Registered Nurses

Area ↕︎	10th Percentile ↕︎	Median ↕︎	90th Percentile ↕︎
Wisconsin	$77,470	$95,530	$119,860
Appleton, WI	$74,340	$86,680	$109,030
Duluth, MN-WI	$77,460	$96,940	$125,980
Eau Claire, WI	$76,320	$93,410	$120,680
Fond du Lac, WI	$77,380	$93,890	$117,660
Green Bay, WI	$78,620	$84,700	$104,390
Janesville-Beloit, WI	$77,440	$93,030	$103,600
Kenosha, WI	$76,960	$83,110	$100,430
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	$79,820	$98,370	$120,220
Madison, WI	$81,760	$101,190	$123,240
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$78,730	$97,360	$119,490
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$82,180	$103,040	$133,450
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$78,070	$87,340	$109,900
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	$77,410	$89,090	$119,450
Sheboygan, WI	$78,580	$84,240	$114,050
Wausau, WI	$77,380	$89,190	$115,210

Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025

Showing 1 – 10 of 16 entries | Data reflects national numbers, not school-specific information.

Explore the Best State-Approved Online RN to BSN Programs in Wisconsin

School Spotlights: Inside Online RN to BSN Programs in Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin – Green Bay

Herzing University

FAQs for Wisconsin RN to BSN Students

Are RN to BSN programs in Wisconsin available in a 100% online format?

How affordable are online RN to BSN programs in Wisconsin?

How long will it take me to finish my online RN to BSN program in Wisconsin?

What are the typical admissions requirements for Wisconsin online RN to BSN programs?

Is it worth pursuing a BSN in Wisconsin if I already have my ADN?

Salary Comparison: ADN vs. BSN in Wisconsin

Cody DeBos, RN, BSN AUTHOR

Jordan Cosselman EDITOR