Nursing and patient care programs in Wisconsin

87 nursing and patient care programs in 5 fields of nursing and patient care, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

54 schools offer these programs, and Wisconsin has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 5 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

These programs train you to care for patients directly: in a hospital, a nursing home or their own home. They run from short courses for nursing assistants (CNA), patient care technicians, home health aides and medication aides to LPN programs and RN degrees.

All job training programs in Wisconsin, every line of work

Accredited nursing schools in Wisconsin, each school with its accreditor

Nursing and patient care programs by state, to compare Wisconsin with other states

Compare nursing and patient care programs in Wisconsin: cost, pay and results

CNA classes (nursing assistant)
36 programs at 33 schools
Most cost
$468 to $2,025
Earned a year, estimated
about $19,200
Working 6 months later
74%
Finished
86%
RN programs (registered nurse)
20 programs at 17 schools
Most cost
$10,435 to $13,198
Earned a year, estimated
about $44,200
Working 6 months later
79%
Finished
49%
Home health aide training
20 programs at 20 schools
Most cost
$671 to $1,200
Earned a year, estimated
about $14,500
Working 6 months later
71%
Finished
95%
LPN programs (licensed practical nurse)
9 programs at 8 schools
Most cost
$4,576 to $6,602
Earned a year, estimated
about $30,600
Working 6 months later
81%
Finished
60%
Medication aide training
2 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Wisconsin may offer more. How these figures are made

Are there free nursing programs in Wisconsin?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most CNA programs in Wisconsin cost $468 to $2,025, and most RN programs $10,435 to $13,198. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Wisconsin, by line of work

Programs approved in Wisconsin in each line of work.

Where the Wisconsin nursing and patient care numbers come from

Which Wisconsin programs are counted?

Programs Wisconsin approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Wisconsin offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the funding facts about nursing and patient care programs in Wisconsin

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources