US CollegesColleges in Wisconsin: cost, admission and results
44 degree-granting colleges and universities in Wisconsin, with the admission rate, net price, graduation rate and earnings of each. The largest are University of Wisconsin-Madison (36,902 undergraduates), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (16,758 undergraduates), University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (9,405 undergraduates).
Wisconsin at a glance
- Colleges on this site
- 44
- Public / private nonprofit / for-profit
- 16 / 27 / 1
- Median in-state tuition and fees
- $27,274
- Median net price a year
- $20,254
- Median admission rate
- 82%
- Median graduation rate
- 59%
- Median earnings 10 years on
- $59,359
No college in this list matches.
| College | Admission rate | Net price a year | Graduation rate | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alverno CollegeMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 86% | $20,863 | 47% | $59,707 |
| Bellin CollegeGreen Bay, WI · Private nonprofit | 97% | $34,765 | 67% | $78,273 |
| Beloit CollegeBeloit, WI · Private nonprofit | 63% | $23,216 | 75% | $59,443 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaWauwatosa, WI · Private nonprofit | not reported | $14,592 | 18% | $37,469 |
| Carroll UniversityWaukesha, WI · Private nonprofit | 67% | $24,205 | 69% | $64,501 |
| Carthage CollegeKenosha, WI · Private nonprofit | 87% | $26,444 | 66% | $59,594 |
| College of Menominee NationKeshena, WI · Private nonprofit | not reported | $8,435 | 7% | $36,005 |
| Concordia University-WisconsinMequon, WI · Private nonprofit | 78% | $29,239 | 67% | $61,992 |
| Edgewood UniversityMadison, WI · Private nonprofit | 76% | $28,487 | 61% | $64,869 |
| Herzing University-KenoshaKenosha, WI · Private nonprofit | 92% | $20,276 | 67% | $44,255 |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe UniversityHayward, WI · Public | not reported | $3,435 | 100% | $25,495 |
| Lakeland UniversityPlymouth, WI · Private nonprofit | 86% | $23,722 | 38% | $61,368 |
| Lawrence UniversityAppleton, WI · Private nonprofit | 64% | $22,758 | 79% | $59,025 |
| Maranatha Baptist UniversityWatertown, WI · Private nonprofit | 72% | $27,172 | 66% | $46,953 |
| Marian UniversityFond Du Lac, WI · Private nonprofit | 75% | $22,225 | 46% | $59,860 |
| Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 81% | $30,561 | 79% | $83,810 |
| Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & DesignMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 61% | $28,129 | 59% | $47,843 |
| Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 59% | $27,027 | 63% | $92,761 |
| Mount Mary UniversityMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 62% | $17,607 | 54% | $54,273 |
| Nashotah HouseNashotah, WI · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Ottawa University-MilwaukeeBrookfield, WI · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $59,897 |
| Rasmussen University-WisconsinGreen Bay, WI · Private for-profit | not reported | not reported | 29% | $47,524 |
| Ripon CollegeRipon, WI · Private nonprofit | 80% | $20,233 | 59% | $55,453 |
| Sacred Heart Seminary and School of TheologyFranklin, WI · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Saint Norbert CollegeDe Pere, WI · Private nonprofit | 86% | $28,822 | 72% | $62,317 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire, WI · Public | 82% | $16,133 | 62% | $62,438 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen Bay, WI · Public | 89% | $12,211 | 47% | $56,401 |
| University of Wisconsin-La CrosseLa Crosse, WI · Public | 76% | $17,064 | 71% | $65,850 |
| University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI · Public | 45% | $16,600 | 90% | $80,330 |
| University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · Public | 91% | $15,625 | 50% | $59,268 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee FlexMilwaukee, WI · Public | 100% | not reported | not reported | $59,268 |
| University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh, WI · Public | 86% | $16,492 | 47% | $59,275 |
| University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha, WI · Public | 75% | $11,233 | 41% | $57,115 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside FlexKenosha, WI · Public | not reported | not reported | not reported | $57,115 |
| University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlatteville, WI · Public | 89% | $15,451 | 58% | $66,166 |
| University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver Falls, WI · Public | 82% | $14,703 | 58% | $56,914 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point, WI · Public | 92% | $14,757 | 53% | $54,432 |
| University of Wisconsin-StoutMenomonie, WI · Public | 88% | $17,533 | 52% | $62,537 |
| University of Wisconsin-SuperiorSuperior, WI · Public | 93% | $13,843 | 43% | $51,871 |
| University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater, WI · Public | 86% | $13,737 | 56% | $59,084 |
| Viterbo UniversityLa Crosse, WI · Private nonprofit | 72% | $22,797 | 63% | $65,641 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 78% | $24,761 | 66% | $68,940 |
| Wisconsin School of Professional PsychologyMilwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
"Not reported" means the Department of Education has no figure, often because the college is small, new, or does not take first-time students. Medians are the middle value of the colleges listed here.
The colleges of Wisconsin in brief
Of the 44 colleges listed for Wisconsin, 16 are public, 27 are private nonprofit and 1 is private for-profit. By level, 36 mainly award bachelor's degrees, 4 mainly award two-year associate degrees and 4 mainly award graduate degrees. Together they teach about 155,999 undergraduates, 79% of them at public colleges. The three largest, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, hold 40% of the total, and the middle-sized college has 1,322 undergraduates. The towns with the most colleges are Milwaukee (10), Kenosha (4) and Green Bay (3).
What college costs in Wisconsin
At the public colleges, the median published tuition and fees are $9,354 a year for students from Wisconsin and $18,564 for students from elsewhere. At the private nonprofit colleges the median is $37,240. Published prices are not what most families pay. Counting colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the lowest average net price after grants is at University of Wisconsin-Parkside ($11,233) and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay ($12,211) and the highest at Bellin College ($34,765) and Marquette University ($30,561). The median net price across the state, $20,254, is 17% above the national median of $17,357.
Getting in
34 of the 44 colleges report an admission rate. The hardest to get into are University of Wisconsin-Madison (45% admitted), Milwaukee School of Engineering (59% admitted) and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (61% admitted). 27 of them admit at least seven applicants in ten. 3 colleges have an open admission policy and report no rate: they do not turn applicants away on grades or test scores.
Finishing and earning
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the highest share of students finishing their course is at University of Wisconsin-Madison (90%), Marquette University (79%) and Lawrence University (79%). The median graduation rate of the state's colleges is 59%, against 49% for the country. Ten years after starting, former students with federal aid earn the most at Milwaukee School of Engineering ($92,761), Marquette University ($83,810) and University of Wisconsin-Madison ($80,330). The state median for that measure is $59,359, 12% above the national $53,132. Students who finish leave with a median federal loan debt of $21,938 (national median $19,994). Earnings follow the subjects a college teaches as much as its quality, so compare like with like.
Questions about colleges in Wisconsin
How many colleges are there in Wisconsin?
This site lists 44 open, degree-granting colleges and universities in Wisconsin, out of 3,161 on the whole site. Schools that mainly give short certificates are not counted.
What is the largest college in Wisconsin?
University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, with about 36,902 undergraduate students.
Which college in Wisconsin has the lowest net price?
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, University of Wisconsin-Parkside: students with federal aid paid an average of $11,233 a year after grants. Students from other states or countries usually pay more.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.