Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Lakeland University

Based on comparable nursing programs across Wisconsin, Lakeland's bachelor's nursing degree appears positioned in the middle of the state's range, with estimated first-year earnings of $72,463 and debt around $28,882. These figures—derived from peer institutions since Lakeland's own graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish—suggest a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40, which is manageable for nursing but not exceptional. Similar programs at schools like Herzing and UW-Madison report slightly higher first-year earnings in the $75,000-$76,000 range, though the difference isn't dramatic.

What matters most here is whether Lakeland can match its peers' outcomes. The $72,463 estimate aligns with Wisconsin's state median for nursing bachelor's programs, putting it roughly on par with national benchmarks ($74,888) but trailing programs that have demonstrated stronger placement. The debt load sits just above both state and national medians, which means you're not getting a pricing advantage that might offset uncertainty about outcomes.

The practical challenge is that you're making a financial commitment without visibility into how Lakeland's specific graduates fare. If their nursing program delivers typical Wisconsin results, the investment works—nursing remains one of the more reliable career paths with clear demand. But you're essentially betting on Lakeland performing at the state average when nearby programs have documented track records showing slightly better returns. Before committing, push the school hard for placement rates, NCLEX pass rates, and where their nursing grads actually land jobs.