RN to MSN Programs in Wisconsin

Online RN to MSN Programs in Wisconsin

We found two Wisconsin universities with online RN to MSN programs: one private and one public. Each program is unique, but you can use the profiles in our school listings to get a sense of the concentrations, costs, and admissions requirements. Here are a few more points to bear in mind:

• Concordia University-Wisconsin: CUW does not accept new students from certain states—see the RN-BSN-MSN program page for a complete list of exceptions. In addition, Washington, D.C. students are required to do their clinicals in Virginia. If you’re eyeing the NP concentrations, be aware that they have on-campus requirements. Online NP students are expected to attend a mandatory, one-day orientation and complete a two-week Advanced Health Assessment course on CUW’s campus (early January or late June).
• University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh: Almost all of UWO’s RN to BSN to MSN is 100% online, but new MSN students will be expected to attend a mandatory College of Nursing Graduate Program orientation session on campus. In addition, it appears that the first part of the program (BSN@Home) is only open to Wisconsin residents. Check with the program coordinator to be sure this is correct.

Cheapest RN to MSN Programs in Wisconsin

Our ranking of the most affordable Wisconsin RN to MSN programs was calculated using per credit graduate tuition rates. But it’s just an estimate! Each program in our school listings has a different number of total credits, different fee structures, and even different rates. For example, CUW and UWO have separate rates for undergraduate and graduate coursework. Think about the total budget.

1. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO): In-State (Out-of-State is much higher)—View Tuition Rates
2. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM): In-State (Out-of-State is much higher)—View Tuition Rates
3. Concordia University-Wisconsin: View Tuition Rate

Considering UWM’s program but live out-of-state? UWM takes part in a Minnesota Reciprocity program and the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP). As far as we can determine, the MN degree qualifies for the MSEP rate.

Wisconsin’s Healthcare Landscape

On the face of it, Wisconsin has a fairly straightforward healthcare story:

• Low capita public health funding and excessive drinking might concern the data analysts at America’s Health Rankings, but the state also has a high percentage of insured residents and a decreasing child poverty rate.
• Wisconsin often receives an excellent grade from the annual U.S. Rural Health Report Card thanks—in part—to low mortality rates and good insurance coverage.
• In the BCBS Health Index Map, most of the state—with the exception of a few counties—is usually a lovely shade of blue.

Even the drug wars are seeing improvements. The opioid epidemic hit Wisconsin hard, peaking in 2017 with 926 overdose deaths (16.9 deaths per 100,000 persons). In response, the state launched a collective effort to tackle the public health crisis. By 2018, overdose deaths had dropped by 10%.

The big challenge is Milwaukee. In 2018, 24/7 Wall Street ranked it #2 on the list of The Worst Cities for Black Americans. The average black household in the city earns less than half of the average white household. Unemployment and incarceration rates are disproportionate. And the black poverty rate can be among the highest in the country.

The result is poorer health. In 2018, a report from WISN 12 News showed a huge disparity. Life expectancy averages in the poorest neighborhoods in the city could be 12 years below the richest zip codes. Higher rates of premature births, infant mortality deaths, and a lack of access to quality housing and healthy foods were just some of the issues in play. In 2019, Milwaukee County declared racism a public health crisis and vowed to fight it.

Jobs for Wisconsin RN to MSN Graduates

Career Outlook for RN to MSN Graduates

In other words, Wisconsin APRNs should find plenty of opportunities to exercise their skills in community health, especially in urban areas. If you’d like to get a sense of other hotspots, have a look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) pages on Nurse Practitioners and Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary. The employment and wage maps are always enlightening.

For instance, you’ll notice that the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area employs over a 1/3 of the state’s NPs, while the rest of the areas (e.g. Madison, Green Bay, etc.) are often in the range of 10%. The same pattern holds true for nurse educators. Milwaukee is the undisputed leader, with Madison in a distant second.

• Considering a job in a hospital setting? U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the Best Hospitals in Wisconsin and the ANCC’s list of Magnet Facilities in Wisconsin will direct you toward some of the stars (e.g. Froedtert, Aurora St. Luke’s, UW Health, etc.).
• Hoping to assist in rural areas? The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health (WORH) has details on various education loan repayment options for Wisconsin nurses & physicians.
• Eyeing the Nurse Educator concentrations in our school listings? ANEW and WNA have been concerned about the growing nursing faculty shortage for quite some time. They’ve been pushing hard for the state government to fund scholarships & loan repayment programs for the MSN and DNP. Check with the WNA to see if any of those efforts have come to pass.

Finally, we want to direct you toward WHA’s comprehensive and helpful Workforce Reports and the WHA Info Center. Reading the reports will give you a sense of projected trends, shortages, and vacancy rates across Wisconsin.

Career Resources for Future APRNs

Wisconsin Nursing Job Boards

• WNA Career Opportunities: Job listings for Wisconsin nurses
• MMNP Career Center: Job listings for Wisconsin NPs (not just in Milwaukee)

Wisconsin APRN Salary & Wage Data

• Annual Mean Wages for Wisconsin Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations: Categories can include “Nurse Practitioners,” “Nurse Midwives,” and “Nurse Anesthetists”
• Annual Mean Wages for Wisconsin Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary
• AANP National Compensation Survey: Available to AANP members

Wisconsin Nursing Organizations

APRN Licensure

• Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS): APN

WI Nursing Associations & Coalitions

• Metro Milwaukee Nurse Practitioners (MMNP)
• National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN): Wisconsin Chapter
• National Black Nurses Association (NBNA): Milwaukee Chapter
• Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA)

WI Nursing Specialty Organizations

• Administrators of Nursing Education in Wisconsin (ANEW)
• American Psychiatric Nurses Association – Wisconsin Chapter (APNA Wisconsin)
• Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses – Wisconsin (AWHONN Wisconsin)
• Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists (WIANA)
• Wisconsin Association of School Nurses (WASN)
• Wisconsin Emergency Nurses Association (WI ENA)
• Wisconsin League for Nursing (WLN)
• Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Leaders (WONL)
• Wisconsin Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (WISPAN)
• Wisconsin State Association of Occupational Health Nurses (WSAOHN)
• Wisconsin Student Nurses Association (WSNA)

Note: Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) posts NCLEX pass rates and a list of state-approved nursing schools on its website. NCLEX pass rates can be a useful benchmark of a College of Nursing’s quality.