Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Lakeshore Technical College

Lakeshore Technical College's nursing program offers one of the lowest debt burdens in Wisconsin ($14,144 versus the state median of $19,000), but earnings lag behind most Wisconsin nursing programs. At $61,635 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $3,400 less than the typical Wisconsin nursing grad and roughly $7,000 less than the national median. Within Wisconsin's 22 nursing programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile—meaning the majority of state programs lead to higher pay.

The debt picture provides some reassurance: with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.23, graduates owe less than three months' salary. However, the earnings plateau is unusual for nursing—income actually dips slightly by year four rather than growing. Top Wisconsin programs like Herzing-Madison and Blackhawk Technical College see graduates earning $8,000-$12,000 more annually, which compounds significantly over a career.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the pattern suggests graduates may face challenges accessing higher-paying hospital systems or specialized roles. For a parent weighing this option, the affordable debt is a genuine advantage, but your child would likely build more earning power at one of Wisconsin's stronger-performing technical colleges, several of which still maintain reasonable debt levels while delivering $68,000+ starting salaries.