Best Online Nursing Programs in Watertown, WI (2026)

Watertown, Wisconsin has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs. Watertown has a population of about 22,873. Median household income is $68,333 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Wisconsin, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $273,170 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Nursing Schools to Watertown

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer nursing programs near Watertown, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Watertown city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Watertown. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Herzing University-Madison

Madison, WI 28.6 miles from Watertown BOC Score 35.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 33%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,909
Avg net price $22,327/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 42%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, WI 30.6 miles from Watertown BOC Score 59.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 45%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,413
Avg net price $14,238/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 128

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Herzing University-Brookfield

Brookfield, WI 32.9 miles from Watertown BOC Score 46.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 54%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,909
Avg net price $20,514/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 19

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI 35.0 miles from Watertown BOC Score 86.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 89%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $73,792
Avg net price $17,354/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 95%
  • Programs offered: 62

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa

Wauwatosa, WI 35.7 miles from Watertown BOC Score 22.9
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 32%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $32,568
Avg net price $14,858/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 47%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Edgewood College

Madison, WI 36.1 miles from Watertown BOC Score 56.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 76%
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,728
Avg net price $26,113/yr
Tuition
In‑state$35,860
Out‑of‑state$35,860
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 25

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Alverno College

Milwaukee, WI 41.0 miles from Watertown BOC Score 48.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,145
Avg net price $22,540/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 30

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, WI 42.5 miles from Watertown BOC Score 74.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 59%
Graduation rate 69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $89,070
Avg net price $22,453/yr
Tuition
In‑state$50,480
Out‑of‑state$50,480
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 10

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Wisconsin schools on the Wisconsin nursing page.


Nursing Wages Near Watertown

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Wisconsin, statewide)
Registered Nurse$95,530
Licensed Practical Nurse$63,760
Nurse Anesthetist$273,170
Nurse Midwife$133,070
Nurse Practitioner$131,980
Nursing Assistant$45,130

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Watertown at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population22,873Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$68,333Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+19.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Nursing-related employment in Jefferson County1,358 workers, 56 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Watertown-Area Cities With Nursing Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nursing schools are near Watertown, WI?

Accredited schools offering nursing programs near Watertown are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying nursing roles in Wisconsin?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles in Wisconsin are: Nurse Anesthetist ($273,170), Nurse Midwife ($133,070), Nurse Practitioner ($131,980). Wages for Watertown workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Fort Atkinson instead of Watertown?

Fort Atkinson, WI is 19.2 miles from Watertown and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Watertown an affordable place to study nursing?

Watertown’s median household income of $68,333 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Watertown while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Wisconsin public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Nursing Programs

Other Programs Available in Watertown

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Watertown:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.