University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
The UW–Madison School of Nursing sits on a major health sciences campus and offers traditional and accelerated pre-licensure BSN pathways, an online RN-to-BSN completion option, a practice-focused DNP, and a research PhD. This guide summarizes admissions benchmarks from the UW–Madison Guide, tuition posted on nursing.wisc.edu, and first-time NCLEX-RN results from the Wisconsin DSPS 2024 annual report for NCLEX program code US50509500. Confirm every detail with the school and Wisconsin DSPS.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Signe Skott Cooper Hall pairs large active-learning classrooms with the Center for Technology-Enhanced Nursing (simulated hospital, clinic, and home environments) on the same corridor as UW School of Medicine and Public Health collaborators—useful if you want research-level resources with varied rural–urban clinical placements across Wisconsin.
Overview & Why Students Choose UW–Madison Nursing
Founded in 1924 as Wisconsin’s first collegiate nursing program, the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing now enrolls more than 1,000 students across pre-licensure, completion, and graduate pathways. The school emphasizes research tied to Wisconsin communities, inclusive excellence, and the Wisconsin Idea—the expectation that university knowledge serves the public beyond campus borders.
Clinically, undergraduate students train in Signe Skott Cooper Hall’s simulation suites while also traveling to hospitals, clinics, schools, and community agencies; the BSN Guide notes sites may be up to about 90 miles from Madison, so budgeting time and transportation matters.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) 2024 Annual NCLEX Pass Rate Report, the UW–Madison BSN program identified as US50509500—the same code the School lists for NCLEX registration—posted a 99.02% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (202 of 204 first-time writers passed). Confirm the next reporting year with DSPS and the school.
Reasons students choose the School of Nursing
Health sciences neighbors
Cooper Hall sits alongside the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and School of Pharmacy, supporting interprofessional learning and research tie-ins that are harder to replicate on stand-alone nursing campuses.
CTEN simulation footprint
The Center for Technology-Enhanced Nursing includes the Shapiro hospital suite, Weikel clinical education suite, and simulated apartment environments for end-to-end patient scenarios.
Multiple BSN entry points
Students can pursue a two-year upper-division traditional BSN, a 12-month ABSN, or the fully online BSN@Home RN-to-BSN track—each aligned to different prior education and work experience.
Diverse DNP tracks
DNP pathways span adult-gerontology acute and primary care, pediatric primary care, psychiatric mental health, population health (online), and systems leadership & innovation (online), with post-BSN and post-MSN plans.
Research-intensive PhD
The PhD program foregrounds nurse-scientist development with signature areas such as aging, health equity, symptom science, and mental health; funding packages depend on assistantships, so ask admissions about current support.
Nursing Programs Offered
The following list mirrors the School of Nursing’s public program pages and the About statement that degrees span BSN, DNP, and PhD plus certificates. Separate degree_level, program_type, pathway, and delivery_mode in internal records as: pre-licensure BSN (traditional, ABSN), post-licensure RN-to-BSN (online), graduate DNP (hybrid/online by track), research PhD (in person), and certificates.
Pre-licensure
Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Most students complete prerequisites and general education as pre-nursing students, apply mid–year two, and enter the four-semester nursing major. Transfer and second-degree students use the same upper-division admission route per the Guide.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)
Accelerated BSN (ABSN) compresses pre-licensure coursework into about 12 months for applicants who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The ABSN application typically opens July 15 with a September 15 deadline—confirm annually.
Post-licensure
RN-to-BSN (BSN@Home)
Licensed RNs with an ADN complete the fully online BSN@Home curriculum; per-credit tuition follows the multi-campus BSN@Home schedule rather than ABSN flat pricing.
Graduate
Doctor of Nursing Practice
The DNP includes APRN tracks (adult-gerontology acute care, adult-gerontology primary care, pediatric primary care, psychiatric mental health) plus population health (online) and systems leadership & innovation (online). Post-BSN and post-MSN plans are available.
PhD in Nursing
In-person PhD training emphasizes research methods, mentorship, and dissemination; priority application window is September–December 1 with rolling review through March 1 per the PhD page.
Certificates & professional development
School Nurse Certificate
Offered with the School of Education for BSN students or practicing RNs who already hold a BSN, focused on Wisconsin school health leadership.
DNP-related certificates
The DNP hub lists advance-practice and educator certificates (for example acute care, pediatrics, psych-mental health, healthcare educator); verify active admissions cycles on the DNP site.
Naming, delivery mode, and plan of study can change with Board approvals. Use the official graduate and undergraduate brochures plus Guide.wisc.edu for the authoritative matrix.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the 2024 Wisconsin Annual NCLEX Pass Rate Report published by DSPS, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Bachelor of Science (professional nursing) program coded US50509500 recorded a 99.02% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate with 204 first-time exam candidates and 202 passing. The School of Nursing instructs graduates to register for NCLEX using that same US50509500 program code, so the DSPS row maps directly to UW–Madison’s pre-licensure BSN cohorts.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate | 99.02% (202 of 204 passed; calendar year 2024, DSPS report) |
| Regulatory program code | US50509500 (per UW–Madison School of Nursing licensure instructions) |
| Source | Wisconsin DSPS Nursing Schools · 2024 NCLEX Pass Rate PDF. Confirm the latest year with DSPS and with the School of Nursing outcomes materials. |
Annual Board reports aggregate all first-time testers within a calendar year; they may differ from shorter school marketing snapshots. Always confirm the newest DSPS publication before citing a rate in applications or employer conversations.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
International applicants and foreign-educated nurses must coordinate UW–Madison admissions policies, visa eligibility, clinical placement requirements, and Wisconsin’s online LicensE (Wisconsin DSPS) nursing application workflow. Use the checklist below as a starting point only—this is general guidance, not legal advice.
- English proficiency: Confirm whether your pathway requires TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores through UW Graduate Admissions, International Division, or program-specific instructions.
- Credential evaluation: Graduate programs often specify official transcript evaluations; follow directions from Graduate Admissions and admissions@nursing.wisc.edu.
- Wisconsin DSPS / Board of Nursing: For licensure by examination or endorsement, use DSPS resources and verify any supplemental documentation for internationally prepared nurses.
- Visa & clinical clearance: Clinical agencies may require U.S. background checks and immunizations; F-1 students should ask how CPT/OPT interacts with intensive clinical sequences.
Policies change frequently. Verify with the UW International Student Services, the School of Nursing, and Wisconsin DSPS.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Traditional BSN admission at UW–Madison is competitive and holistic. The Guide stresses that completing prerequisites with the minimum GPA does not guarantee admission; the faculty committee also reviews essays, leadership, service, healthcare exposure, and diversity of experience.
Traditional BSN (upper-division) benchmarks
- At application submission (mid-January): C or better in four of seven science/prerequisite courses; cumulative and prerequisite GPA ≥ 2.75.
- Before entry (end of spring term): C or better in all seven prerequisites; maintain ≥ 2.75 cumulative and prerequisite GPA; complete at least 54 degree credits.
- Applicants may not have previously enrolled in another institution’s professional BSN program.
ABSN and RN-to-BSN pathways publish different prerequisite rules; follow the tabs on nursing.wisc.edu/bsn.
Application timeline
| Entry Term | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional BSN (fall) | Apply mid-January; decision by July 1 | Per UW Guide; no spring or summer starts. |
| ABSN | Application opens July 15; due Sept. 15 (11:59 p.m. CT) | Confirm the next cycle on the ABSN application page. |
| RN-to-BSN (BSN@Home) | Varies by consortium policy | Use BSN@Home instructions. |
| DNP | Program-specific | See DNP admissions. |
| PhD | Priority Sept.–Dec. 1; rolling through March 1 | Per PhD program page. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing major) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA (traditional BSN) | 2.75 cumulative and prerequisite GPAs at checkpoints listed in the Guide |
| TEAS / HESI | Not listed in the Guide prerequisite table; confirm for other pathways on official admissions pages. |
| Holistic factors | Essays, service, leadership, healthcare experience, and background diversity factor into upper-division admission. |
Tips for competitive applicants
Because published GPA thresholds are minimums, successful applicants typically exceed them. Build healthcare exposure, document leadership, and meet advisors early so transfer or AP credits post before faculty review.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Tuition differs by pathway. Figures below come from the School of Nursing tuition page and the UW offices it cites.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Traditional BSN (TBSN) | Undergraduate tuition and segregated fees follow the Bursar tuition workbook; admitted School of Nursing undergraduates pay an additional $1,500 per academic year nursing tuition differential. Estimate living costs via the Office of Student Financial Aid. |
| ABSN flat tuition | $45,000 total for Wisconsin residents (includes Minnesota reciprocity) or $60,000 for nonresidents, per the nursing tuition page. Federal and state aid for a second bachelor’s may be limited. |
| RN-to-BSN (BSN@Home) | Nursing courses use the multi-campus BSN@Home tuition schedule; other credits bill at standard undergraduate rates. |
| DNP per-credit (listed on nursing page) | APRN hybrid tracks: $1,108.16/credit resident, $2,116.15/credit nonresident. Population Health and Systems Leadership & Innovation (online): $1,150/credit. Online/distance DNP students are not assessed segregated fees. |
| Clinical & licensure extras | The School lists additional estimates (compliance, Typhon/MyCE, travel, uniforms, NCLEX registration). Budget roughly $300–$600 for NCLEX registration and related licensure costs alone. |
| Source | UW–Madison School of Nursing — Tuition & Fees. Confirm figures after the Regents’ summer tuition vote. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Pair regulatory NCLEX statistics with school career pages, noting each statistic’s cohort and methodology.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate | 99.02% (202 of 204) for US50509500 in the Wisconsin DSPS 2024 annual report. Confirm the next calendar year when DSPS posts updated data. |
| Employment / graduate education | The BSN marketing page highlights career continuation metrics; treat them as school-reported and verify definitions on the school’s outcomes or career pages before citing specific percentages. |
| Salary snapshot | The BSN page lists a median base salary for recent graduates—confirm the posted year and sample on nursing.wisc.edu/bsn. |
| Graduate certification outcomes | The DNP site references APRN certification performance; confirm the exam population and cohort year on that page before repeating claims. |
Is UW–Madison School of Nursing the Right Fit for You?
UW–Madison combines flagship-university resources with competitive admission and a regional clinical radius that rewards planners.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want research proximity (nursing, medicine, pharmacy, public health) and optional global DNP experiences.
- Are comfortable with simulation-heavy skills labs plus community placements that may sit many miles from campus.
- Plan to work across Wisconsin or the Midwest where Badger nursing alumni density is high.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a fully online pre-licensure degree—TBSN and ABSN remain campus-centric.
- Prefer guaranteed admission once minimum GPA rules are satisfied.
- Want exclusively urban clinical sites without rural or school-based rotations.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Madison anchors south-central Wisconsin’s referral network. Academic tertiary care sits at UW Health University Hospital (including American Family Children’s Hospital), while SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital–Madison and UnityPoint Health – Meriter add high-volume community experiences. Beyond hospitals, School of Nursing clinicals reach clinics, schools, public health departments, and rural agencies—matching the “72 counties” outreach message on the school homepage.
| Facility | Details |
|---|---|
| UW Health University Hospital | Tertiary academic medical center neighboring campus; complex specialty exposure. |
| American Family Children’s Hospital | Pediatric quaternary services integrated with UW Health. |
| SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital–Madison | Major community hospital serving Dane County and beyond. |
| UnityPoint Health – Meriter | Community network with strong women’s and pediatric services. |
| Regional & rural partners | BSN students may train in home health, schools, and critical access hospitals up to ~90 miles away—plan travel accordingly. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Signe Skott Cooper Hall combines LEED Silver design with wellness infrastructure: Revive Café, indoor walking paths, treadmill desks, meditation rooms, Skott Commons history exhibits, and the auditorium used for white coat events. The Center for Technology-Enhanced Nursing houses mock hospital rooms, clinic bays, and a simulated apartment for home-care competencies. Student ambassadors, Registered Student Organizations, and centralized graduate advising help learners navigate demanding clinical sequences.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Madison, WI
- Address
- 701 Highland Avenue, Signe Skott Cooper Hall, Madison, WI 53705, US
- Telephone
- (608) 263-5180 (Graduate Admissions, per School of Nursing)
- Contact email
- admissions@nursing.wisc.edu
- Website
- nursing.wisc.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Bookmark the BSN hub or graduate programs page that matches your pathway.
- Download the current prerequisite table from the UW Guide and compare it to your transcripts.
- Decide whether you need entrance exams; confirm requirements on the School’s pathway-specific application—not every track uses TEAS/HESI.
- Email admissions@nursing.wisc.edu with pathway-specific questions (include your intended entry term).
- Read the DSPS 2024 NCLEX report to see how Wisconsin publishes outcomes.
- Shadow or interview a current student through ambassador events or LinkedIn to learn about clinical commutes.
- Add key deadlines (mid-January traditional application; July/September ABSN) to your calendar with reminders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing a strong nursing program?
Yes—by public measures it combines CCNE-accredited BSN and DNP programs, large simulation investments, and strong DSPS-reported NCLEX performance (99.02% first-time for program US50509500 in calendar year 2024). Confirm rankings, tuition, and accreditation statements on the school’s About page.
What GPA do I need for the traditional BSN at UW–Madison?
The UW Guide lists minimum cumulative and prerequisite GPAs of 2.75 at both application (mid-January) and pre-entry checkpoints, along with C or better grades in seven prerequisite buckets. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission because review is holistic.
Does UW–Madison nursing require TEAS or HESI?
The Traditional BSN “How to Get In” section in the UW Guide does not list TEAS/HESI among prerequisites. Other pathways may differ—verify on the ABSN or BSN@Home instructions.
How competitive is UW–Madison’s nursing major?
Faculty describe upper-division admission as competitive and emphasize essays, leadership, healthcare exposure, and diversity of experience. A nursing-specific acceptance rate is not publicly disclosed.
Does UW–Madison offer an Accelerated BSN?
Yes. Accelerated BSN (ABSN) is a roughly 12-month pre-licensure option for students who already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, with applications typically opening July 15 and closing September 15.
What is the UW–Madison BSN NCLEX pass rate?
Wisconsin DSPS reported a 99.02% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for the UW–Madison BS program coded US50509500 during 2024 (202 of 204 first-time writers passed). Always check the newest DSPS annual PDF for subsequent years.
How much does UW–Madison ABSN tuition cost?
The School lists flat ABSN tuition of $45,000 for Wisconsin residents (including Minnesota reciprocity) and $60,000 for nonresidents, with limited federal/state aid for second degrees.
Can working RNs complete a BSN online at UW–Madison?
Licensed RNs with an ADN can pursue the fully online BSN@Home completion program; tuition aligns with the multi-campus BSN@Home schedule rather than the ABSN flat rate.
What Doctor of Nursing Practice tracks are available?
DNP options include adult-gerontology acute care, adult-gerontology primary care, pediatric primary care, psychiatric mental health, population health (online), and systems leadership & innovation (online), with post-BSN and post-MSN plans.
References
- University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursinghttps://nursing.wisc.edu/
- UW–Madison School of Nursing — Tuition & Feeshttps://nursing.wisc.edu/tuition-fees/
- UW–Madison Guide — Nursing, BSNhttps://guide.wisc.edu/undergraduate/nursing/nursing/nursing-bsn/
- UW–Madison Nursing Students — Undergraduate Licensure (NCLEX code US50509500)https://students.nursing.wisc.edu/undergraduate-menu/undergraduate-certification-licensure/
- Wisconsin DSPS — Nursing Schools (NCLEX reports)https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/NursingSchools.aspx
- Wisconsin DSPS — 2024 Annual NCLEX Pass Rate Report (PDF)https://dsps.wi.gov/Documents/2024YearlyPass%20Rate_WI.pdf
- Universities of Wisconsin — BSN@Homehttps://bsnathome.com/
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)https://www.ncsbn.org/
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nurseshttps://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for NCLEX alignment with Wisconsin DSPS publications, tuition alignment with official School of Nursing pages, and program scope alignment with nursing.wisc.edu and the UW Guide.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; verify with the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing and Wisconsin DSPS / Board of Nursing.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy