Best Colleges in Wisconsin (2026)
89 colleges ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.
89
Colleges
$44,793
Avg Earnings (10yr)
$17,077
Avg Net Price
79%
Avg Admit Rate
56%
Avg Grad Rate
State Overview
Wisconsin is home to 89 colleges and universities, ranging from research universities to community colleges. Milwaukee School of Engineering leads the state in graduate earnings, with state alumni earning $44,793 on average ten years after enrollment. Whether you're looking for a flagship research university, a liberal arts college, or a career-focused program, Wisconsin offers diverse options across all price points.
Quick Facts — Wisconsin Colleges
Top 10 Colleges in Wisconsin by Graduate Earnings
Ranked by median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Public and private nonprofit only.
Admit
60%
Net Price
$24,021
Grad Rate
71%
Earnings
$89,070
Admit
87%
Net Price
$14,754
Grad Rate
61%
Earnings
$61,760
Admit
73%
Net Price
$15,374
Grad Rate
71%
Earnings
$60,378
Admit
76%
Net Price
$16,948
Grad Rate
66%
Earnings
$58,561
Most Affordable Colleges in Wisconsin
Lowest average net price after grants and scholarships. Public and private nonprofit only.
Rhinelander, WI
48% grad rate
Pewaukee, WI
47% grad rate
Popular Majors
Compare the best colleges for top fields of study — ranked by graduate earnings nationwide.
Find your best-fit Wisconsin college
Get a personalized report based on your interests, goals, and what matters most to you — in minutes.
Find my Wisconsin collegeAll Colleges in Wisconsin
All 89 accredited institutions. Click column headers to sort.
| School | City | Type | Admit Rate | Net Price | Grad Rate | Earnings (10yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of Beauty Professionals | Madison | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | 41% | $25,117 |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals | Green Bay | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | 44% | $25,117 |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals | Appleton | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | 45% | $25,117 |
| Advanced College of Cosmetology | Waupun | Private For-Profit | N/A | $13,510 | 82% | N/A |
| Alverno College | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 93% | $16,722 | 52% | $53,145 |
| Aveda Institute-Madison | Madison | Private For-Profit | N/A | $13,950 | 90% | $31,723 |
| Bellin College | Green Bay | Private Nonprofit | 100% | $27,313 | 75% | $76,222 |
| Beloit College | Beloit | Private Nonprofit | 57% | $21,924 | 69% | $53,260 |
| Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville | Public | N/A | $10,712 | 36% | $41,620 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Bayshore | Glendale | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $32,568 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Racine | Mount Pleasant | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $32,568 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa | Wauwatosa | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $15,135 | 20% | $32,568 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha | Private Nonprofit | 58% | $24,362 | 68% | $58,009 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private Nonprofit | 84% | $24,813 | 63% | $56,950 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Public | N/A | $12,025 | 46% | $46,297 |
| College of Menominee Nation | Keshena | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $10,498 | 30% | $25,853 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | Mequon | Private Nonprofit | 68% | $26,067 | 65% | $56,075 |
| East-West Healing Arts Institute | Madison | Private For-Profit | N/A | $31,572 | 77% | N/A |
| East-West Healing Arts Institute - Milwaukee | Shorewood | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Edgewood College | Madison | Private Nonprofit | 95% | $25,634 | 65% | $59,728 |
| Empire Beauty School-Green Bay | Ashwaubenon | Private For-Profit | N/A | $15,071 | 63% | $23,589 |
| Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Private For-Profit | N/A | $15,591 | 37% | $23,589 |
| First Class Cosmetology School | Beloit | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,411 | 71% | $26,792 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton | Public | N/A | $10,910 | 55% | $45,684 |
| Gateway Technical College | Kenosha | Public | N/A | $8,667 | 46% | $40,264 |
| Herzing University-Brookfield | Brookfield | Private Nonprofit | 91% | $18,796 | 63% | $36,909 |
| Herzing University-Kenosha | Kenosha | Private Nonprofit | 89% | $17,613 | 47% | $36,909 |
| Herzing University-Madison | Madison | Private Nonprofit | 94% | $20,319 | 24% | $36,909 |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University | Hayward | Public | N/A | $11,536 | 11% | $24,302 |
| Lakeland University | Plymouth | Private Nonprofit | 91% | $22,092 | 54% | $55,961 |
| Lakeshore Technical College | Cleveland | Public | N/A | $8,579 | 45% | $47,113 |
| Lawrence University | Appleton | Private Nonprofit | 63% | $24,563 | 77% | $55,789 |
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Public | N/A | $12,392 | 24% | $45,413 |
| Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown | Private Nonprofit | 71% | $24,659 | 60% | $45,593 |
| Marian University | Fond Du Lac | Private Nonprofit | 67% | $23,341 | 46% | $53,501 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 87% | $29,237 | 81% | $78,257 |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids | Public | N/A | $10,724 | 48% | $42,253 |
| Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine | Racine | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $44,136 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Public | N/A | $9,589 | 20% | $41,113 |
| Milwaukee Career College | Milwaukee | Private For-Profit | 72% | $22,881 | 55% | $28,355 |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 63% | $27,514 | 60% | $41,174 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 60% | $24,021 | 71% | $89,070 |
| Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Public | N/A | $9,935 | 47% | $44,371 |
| Mount Mary University | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 93% | $18,295 | 60% | $48,745 |
| Nashotah House | Nashotah | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nicolet Area Technical College | Rhinelander | Public | N/A | $9,290 | 48% | $38,643 |
| Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | Public | N/A | $11,555 | 48% | $44,925 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Public | N/A | $10,506 | 48% | $44,553 |
| Northland College | Ashland | Private Nonprofit | 72% | $20,780 | 49% | $44,560 |
| Northwood Technical College | Rice Lake | Public | N/A | $8,892 | 56% | $43,406 |
| Ottawa University-Milwaukee | Brookfield | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $55,552 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Madison | Madison | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,365 | 42% | $29,138 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee | Wauwatosa | Private For-Profit | N/A | $17,564 | 41% | $25,122 |
| Rasmussen University-Wausau | Wausau | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $39,080 |
| Rasmussen University-Wisconsin | Green Bay | Private For-Profit | N/A | $18,847 | 61% | $39,080 |
| Ripon College | Ripon | Private Nonprofit | 84% | $21,176 | 58% | $54,902 |
| Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology | Franklin | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Saint Norbert College | De Pere | Private Nonprofit | 92% | $25,674 | 73% | $58,363 |
| Shepherds College | Union Grove | Private Nonprofit | 58% | $24,235 | 74% | N/A |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore | Public | N/A | $10,277 | 55% | $43,470 |
| State College of Beauty Culture | Wausau | Private For-Profit | N/A | $10,994 | 59% | $28,037 |
| The Institute of Beauty and Wellness | Milwaukee | Private For-Profit | N/A | $15,616 | 88% | $31,723 |
| The Professional Hair Design Academy | Eau Claire | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,720 | 86% | $29,587 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton | Appleton | Private For-Profit | N/A | $10,859 | 82% | $32,317 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha | Kenosha | Private For-Profit | N/A | $26,061 | 64% | $24,941 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska | Onalaska | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,460 | 88% | $30,744 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Janesville | Janesville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $13,832 | 31% | $23,149 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | Eau Claire | Public | 76% | $16,948 | 66% | $58,561 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | Green Bay | Public | 88% | $12,878 | 53% | $52,528 |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | La Crosse | Public | 73% | $15,374 | 71% | $60,378 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison | Public | 43% | $16,928 | 89% | $73,792 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Public | 88% | $16,177 | 50% | $54,990 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex | Milwaukee | Public | 92% | N/A | N/A | $54,990 |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | Oshkosh | Public | 87% | $14,761 | 58% | $55,548 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Kenosha | Public | 73% | $10,044 | 40% | $51,129 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside Flex | Kenosha | Public | N/A | N/A | N/A | $51,129 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | Platteville | Public | 87% | $14,754 | 61% | $61,760 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls | Public | 82% | $14,714 | 60% | $54,458 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | Stevens Point | Public | 90% | $13,726 | 56% | $52,021 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | Menomonie | Public | 85% | $17,365 | 52% | $58,084 |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | Superior | Public | 94% | $13,405 | 42% | $49,606 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Whitewater | Public | 83% | $14,785 | 63% | $55,356 |
| VICI Beauty School | Greenfield | Private For-Profit | N/A | $12,721 | 85% | $32,393 |
| Viterbo University | La Crosse | Private Nonprofit | 73% | $22,633 | 63% | $55,660 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Public | N/A | $9,400 | 47% | $46,894 |
| Western Technical College | La Crosse | Public | N/A | $12,069 | 41% | $45,303 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 79% | $21,315 | 65% | $54,664 |
| Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Showing 89 of 89 schools