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Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin

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2023 Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

16 Schools Ranked
$6,615 Avg Tuition & Fees*

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin ranking. Our analysis looked at 16 schools in Wisconsin to see which basic certificate programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin
499 Total Awards
$6,769 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Madison Area Technical College to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Wisconsin. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 499 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,769 a year.

One thing to take note of is that Madison College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 77% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Madison College also made our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin list, coming in at #1.

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#2

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
482 Total Awards
$6,683 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 16 schools in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s value ranking, Moraine Park Technical College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 482 basic certificate awards in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Moraine Park Technical College are $6,683 per year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Moraine Park Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 12% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Moraine Park Technical College is ranked #2 for overall quality in Wisconsin.

Full Moraine Park Technical College Report

#3

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
353 Total Awards
$6,683 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chippewa Valley Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin list. This medium-sized public school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 353 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CVTC are $6,683 per year.

Online courses are available at CVTC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 60% took at least some of their classes online.

CVTC also made our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin list, coming in at #4.

Read full report on Chippewa Valley Technical College

#4

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, Wisconsin
247 Total Awards
$6,683 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Blackhawk Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin list. BTC is a small public school situated in Janesville, Wisconsin. It awarded 247 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BTC are $6,683 per year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since BTC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

BTC also made our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin list, coming in at #5.

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#5

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin
461 Total Awards
$6,861 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Fox Valley Technical College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Fox Valley Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Appleton, Wisconsin that handed out 461 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FVTC are $6,861 per year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at FVTC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 42% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

FVTC also took the #3 spot in our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin rankings.

Read full report on Fox Valley Technical College

#6

Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, Wisconsin
347 Total Awards
$5,415 Average Tuition & Fees

Northcentral Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin list. This medium-sized public school is located in Wausau, Wisconsin, and it awarded 347 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

North Central Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,415 in tuition and fees each year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at North Central Technical College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Northcentral Technical College Report

#7

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
564 Total Awards
$6,803 Average Tuition & Fees

Gateway Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Gateway Technical College is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 564 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Gateway Technical College are $6,803 per year.

Gateway Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 48% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Gateway Technical College

617 Total Awards
$6,849 Average Tuition & Fees

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 617 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NWTC are $6,849 per year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NWTC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#9

Waukesha County Technical College

Pewaukee, Wisconsin
544 Total Awards
$6,603 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Pewaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 544 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCTC are $6,603 per year.

WCTC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 17% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#10

Western Technical College

La Crosse, Wisconsin
197 Total Awards
$6,687 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, Western Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Western Technical College is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 197 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Western Technical College are $6,687 per year.

Online courses are available at Western Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 88% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#11

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Fennimore, Wisconsin
228 Total Awards
$6,683 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Fennimore, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 228 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwest Tech are $6,683 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Southwest Tech. In fact, around 33% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#12

Mid-State Technical College

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
221 Total Awards
$6,351 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Mid-State Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Mid-State is located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 221 basic certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Mid-State are $6,351 a year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Mid-State does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 52% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#13

Lakeshore Technical College

Cleveland, Wisconsin
133 Total Awards
$6,056 Average Tuition & Fees

Lakeshore Technical College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. LTC is located in Cleveland, Wisconsin and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 133 basic certificates to qualified students.

LTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,056 in tuition and fees each year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LTC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 82% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Lakeshore Technical College

#14

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
210 Total Awards
$6,908 Average Tuition & Fees

Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 210 basic certificate awards in 2020-2021.

MATC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,908 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that MATC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 84% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Milwaukee Area Technical College Report

#15

Nicolet Area Technical College

Rhinelander, Wisconsin
94 Total Awards
$6,852 Average Tuition & Fees

Nicolet Area Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Wisconsin ranking. Nicolet Area Technical College is a small public school situated in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. It awarded 94 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Nicolet Area Technical College are $6,852 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at Nicolet Area Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Nicolet Area Technical College Report

#16

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Shell Lake, Wisconsin
21 Total Awards
$6,960 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #16, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. This small public school is located in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, and it awarded 21 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WITC are $6,960 per year.

One thing to take note of is that WITC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region

View Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 16 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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