Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Rasmussen University-Wisconsin

Rasmussen University-Wisconsin manages to outperform most in-state competitors while keeping debt remarkably low. At $45,271 first-year earnings, graduates earn about $8,000 more than the typical Wisconsin LPN program graduate—landing in the 60th percentile statewide. Only a handful of programs, including the Herzing campuses, produce higher earners in Wisconsin.

The real standout here is the debt picture. At $21,274, Rasmussen loads students with less than half the burden relative to earnings (0.47 ratio) and sits in just the 10th percentile nationally for debt—meaning 90% of similar programs nationwide saddle graduates with more. That's especially meaningful given that 57% of students receive Pell grants. The modest 4% earnings growth to year four is typical for LPN roles, where entry-level pay closely mirrors mid-career rates due to the nature of the work.

For families weighing Wisconsin nursing programs, Rasmussen offers a pragmatic path: competitive starting salaries that exceed the state median by nearly 25%, paired with debt levels that won't derail other financial goals. The trade-off is limited salary progression, but that's inherent to practical nursing regardless of where you train.