Concordia University, Wisconsin

CUW Nursing integrates high-level clinical science with a Christian foundation. The traditional BSN is a direct-entry program for qualified freshmen, allowing them to bypass the "pre-nursing" waiting period common at large public universities. For career changers, the Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DE-MSN) is a 15-month intensive track that prepares students with a prior non-nursing degree to become an RN while earning a Master's degree. At the graduate level, CUW is a pioneer in telehealth education, offering 100% online MSN and DNP programs with concentrations in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology (AGPCNP), and Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP).

The program's flagship feature is the School of Nursing Wing, a state-of-the-art facility completed in late 2023. This center includes a 10-bed skills lab, five high-fidelity hospital simulation rooms, and a "First in the World" Lifecast Adult Female manikin—a 3D-scanned simulator with hyper-realistic skin and anatomy. Students also utilize an Anatomage Table for virtual 3D dissections. Clinical rotations are guaranteed and take place at premier Milwaukee systems, including Advocate Aurora Health, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Ascension. A hallmark of the CUW experience is Global Health; students frequently travel to Mexico or Kenya for mission-based clinical immersions, earning credit while providing care in underserved international communities.

Compared to other private programs in Wisconsin, CUW is distinguished by its Uncommon Scholarships, which provide significant tuition discounts to alumni and employees of partner healthcare systems. The program's rigor is reflected in its outcomes; beyond the near-perfect NCLEX rates, the school maintains a 100% job placement rate within six months of graduation. Admission for the traditional track typically requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a strong science background, while the DE-MSN requires a 3.0 GPA in a previous bachelor's degree and current CNA certification (or equivalent).