Best colleges in Wisconsin
Join the Cheeseheads
College, camping, and colorful seasons
Wisconsin is where people live when they’re ready to experience a colorful autumn, some of the best cheese around, and of course a quality college education. There are 85 colleges in the state of Wisconsin, including a public university system, private colleges, and a few medical schools.* Popular majors in Wisconsin include psychology, mechanical engineering and various liberal arts studies. Grads get jobs quickly with a low unemployment rate and go on to work at impressive places like Astronautics Corporation of America, GE Healthcare, and Plexus Corp.*
During your off hours, there are plenty of things happening all around the state. World-class fishing, hiking to caves and waterfalls, and camping out under the stars are all popular activities that make Wisconsin a coveted state for nature lovers. Of course, sometimes you want to just kick back and relax indoors. Check out O’Davey’s Pub in Fond du Lac for their signature Bloody Mary. What makes it unique? The optional garnishes include a soft pretzel and a bag of popcorn or a cheeseburger!* And when you get sports fever, head out to Lambeau Field to freeze your bum off tailgating for Aaron Rodgers and the fan-owned Green Bay Packers. However you choose to pursue an education and enjoy your down time, Wisconsin is a state overflowing with natural beauty and plenty of man-made fun.
Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Bureau of Labor Statistics *Wikipedia, “Colleges and universities in Wisconsin”, “Companies based in Wisconsin” *www.travelwisconsin.comBest Four Year Universities in Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin was founded in 1848 in Madison, Wisconsin and currently covers more than 10,000 acres along Lake Mendota. This university was the first in the University of Wisconsin System and offers over 130 academic departments for approximately 30,000 undergraduate students. The University of Wisconsin operates on a semester-based academic calendar with highly productive academic research institutes that specialize in a range of medical, pharmaceutical, and environmental studies. The graduation rate at UW is 84.8% and the school commands a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1, which is much lower than is typical for a flagship state institution.
Outside of Madison, the Wisconsin State Universities System operates smaller campuses in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Parkside, which have higher acceptance rates and condensed class sizes. Prospective students should note that Wisconsin residents receive in-state tuition at a much lower rate than applicants from out-of-state. Lower tuition rates extend to students from Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
UW has a robust funding network that includes entities like the National Institutes of Health and General Motors, making it one of the top research universities in the midwest. UW athletic teams are represented by their campus mascot, Bucky Badger. They compete in the BIG10 and play home games at the famous Camp Randall Stadium. Notable alumni include pioneer of flight Charles Lindbergh, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and naturalist John Muir.
Lawrence University offers 46 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 326 students graduated with students earning 326 Bachelor's degrees.
Beloit College offers 61 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 211 students graduated with students earning 211 Bachelor's degrees.
Marquette University offers 202 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 3,219 students graduated with students earning 1,869 Bachelor's degrees, 850 Master's degrees, 464 Doctoral degrees, and 36 Certificates.
Milwaukee School of Engineering offers 37 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 662 students graduated with students earning 547 Bachelor's degrees, 91 Master's degrees, and 24 Certificates.
Carroll University offers 69 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 895 students graduated with students earning 675 Bachelor's degrees, 144 Master's degrees, and 76 Doctoral degrees.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offers 84 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 2,371 students graduated with students earning 1,983 Bachelor's degrees, 310 Master's degrees, 50 Doctoral degrees, 15 Associate's degrees, and 13 Certificates.
Saint Norbert College offers 74 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2023, 407 students graduated with students earning 390 Bachelor's degrees, 16 Master's degrees, and 1 Certificate.
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 191 students graduated with students earning 191 Bachelor's degrees.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire offers 116 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 2,305 students graduated with students earning 2,023 Bachelor's degrees, 178 Master's degrees, 61 Associate's degrees, 22 Certificates, and 21 Doctoral degrees.
Best Community Colleges in Wisconsin
Milwaukee Career College offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2023, 50 students graduated with students earning 37 Certificates, and 13 Associate's degrees.
Gateway Technical College offers 142 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2023, 984 students graduated with students earning 691 Associate's degrees, and 293 Certificates.
Moraine Park Technical College offers 103 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2023, 627 students graduated with students earning 363 Associate's degrees, and 264 Certificates.
Fox Valley Technical College offers 173 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2023, 1,568 students graduated with students earning 950 Associate's degrees, and 618 Certificates.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College offers 77 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a remote rural area. In 2023, 460 students graduated with students earning 249 Associate's degrees, and 211 Certificates.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College offers 170 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2023, 1,546 students graduated with students earning 898 Associate's degrees, and 648 Certificates.
Northwood Technical College offers 94 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a remote town. In 2023, 732 students graduated with students earning 436 Certificates, and 296 Associate's degrees.
Northcentral Technical College offers 260 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2023, 623 students graduated with students earning 447 Associate's degrees, and 176 Certificates.
Lakeshore Technical College offers 95 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway rural area. In 2023, 453 students graduated with students earning 239 Associate's degrees, and 214 Certificates.
Mid-State Technical College offers 97 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2023, 454 students graduated with students earning 271 Associate's degrees, and 183 Certificates.
Find local colleges in Wisconsin
Top schools offering specific degrees in Wisconsin
List of all colleges in Wisconsin
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | 20 : 1 | 49,605 | |
|
Lawrence University Appleton, WI | 8 : 1 | 1,410 | |
|
Beloit College Beloit, WI | 12 : 1 | 948 | |
|
Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | 17 : 1 | 11,373 | |
|
Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WI | 16 : 1 | 2,834 | |