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

Western Technical College's nursing program lands in the middle of Wisconsin's nursing landscape, but the backward earnings trajectory deserves close attention. Graduates earn $64,274 in their first year—slightly below Wisconsin's median and $4,000 less than the national benchmark. More concerning, earnings actually decline to $61,232 by year four, a pattern that runs counter to typical nursing career growth. With robust data from 100+ graduates, this isn't a statistical fluke.

That said, the debt burden remains manageable at $19,937, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 that won't overwhelm new nurses. Students here graduate with slightly less debt than the state median, which matters for financial flexibility early in a career. The program ranks at the 40th percentile statewide—solidly middle-of-the-pack when compared to 22 Wisconsin nursing programs, though notably behind schools like Blackhawk Technical College and Milwaukee Area Technical where first-year earnings exceed $69,000.

The earnings decline between years one and four suggests graduates may face challenges advancing within their organizations or that many remain in entry-level positions longer than peers elsewhere. For a family prioritizing immediate employability with moderate debt, Western Technical checks those boxes. But if your child aims for higher earning potential within nursing, other Wisconsin technical colleges demonstrate clearer upward trajectories.