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.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics *Wikipedia, “Colleges and universities in Wisconsin”, “Companies based in Wisconsin” *www.travelwisconsin.comBest Four Year Universities in Wisconsin
Lawrence University offers 40 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 350 students graduated with students earning 350 Bachelor's degrees.
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.
Beloit College offers 61 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 322 students graduated with students earning 322 Bachelor's degrees.
Marquette University offers 195 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 2,853 students graduated with students earning 1,767 Bachelor's degrees, 651 Master's degrees, 410 Doctoral degrees, and 25 Certificates.
Saint Norbert College offers 73 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2019, 596 students graduated with students earning 529 Bachelor's degrees, 46 Certificates, and 21 Master's degrees.
Milwaukee School of Engineering offers 45 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 667 students graduated with students earning 540 Bachelor's degrees, 116 Master's degrees, and 11 Certificates.
Ripon College offers 33 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2019, 157 students graduated with students earning 157 Bachelor's degrees.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offers 77 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 2,400 students graduated with students earning 2,011 Bachelor's degrees, 335 Master's degrees, 41 Doctoral degrees, 10 Associate's degrees, and 3 Certificates.
Carthage College offers 68 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2019, 657 students graduated with students earning 606 Bachelor's degrees, and 51 Master's degrees.
Edgewood College offers 95 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 620 students graduated with students earning 397 Bachelor's degrees, 184 Master's degrees, 33 Doctoral degrees, and 6 Certificates.
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 2019, 138 students graduated with students earning 116 Certificates, and 22 Associate's degrees.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College offers 73 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway rural area. In 2019, 751 students graduated with students earning 524 Certificates, and 227 Associate's degrees.
Fox Valley Technical College offers 148 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2019, 3,471 students graduated with students earning 2,398 Certificates, and 1,073 Associate's degrees.
Moraine Park Technical College offers 105 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2019, 1,424 students graduated with students earning 964 Certificates, and 460 Associate's degrees.
Nicolet Area Technical College offers 71 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2019, 516 students graduated with students earning 355 Certificates, and 161 Associate's degrees.
Western Technical College offers 95 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2019, 1,575 students graduated with students earning 887 Certificates, and 688 Associate's degrees.
Lakeshore Technical College offers 115 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway rural area. In 2019, 1,125 students graduated with students earning 807 Certificates, and 318 Associate's degrees.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College offers 100 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway rural area. In 2019, 1,774 students graduated with students earning 1,414 Certificates, and 360 Associate's degrees.
Chippewa Valley Technical College offers 123 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a small city. In 2019, 2,276 students graduated with students earning 1,571 Certificates, and 705 Associate's degrees.
Waukesha County Technical College offers 87 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 1,869 students graduated with students earning 1,203 Certificates, and 666 Associate's degrees.
List of all colleges in Wisconsin
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lawrence University Appleton, WI | 8 : 1 | 1,442 | |
|
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | 20 : 1 | 44,257 | |
|
Beloit College Beloit, WI | 12 : 1 | 1,143 | |
|
Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | 17 : 1 | 11,819 | |
|
Saint Norbert College De Pere, WI | 15 : 1 | 2,081 | |
|
Shepherds College Union Grove, WI | 95 | ||
|
Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WI | 17 : 1 | 2,746 | |
|
Ripon College Ripon, WI | 14 : 1 | 787 | |
|
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, WI | 21 : 1 | 10,623 | |
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Carthage College Kenosha, WI | 16 : 1 | 2,742 | |
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Edgewood College Madison, WI | 14 : 1 | 2,038 | |
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Carroll University Waukesha, WI | 25 : 1 | 3,449 | |
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Mount Mary University Milwaukee, WI | 20 : 1 | 1,246 | |
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Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Milwaukee, WI | 17 : 1 | 870 | |
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University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI | 27 : 1 | 11,255 | |
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Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, WI | 24 : 1 | 5,777 | |
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Bellin College Green Bay, WI | 34 : 1 | 649 | |
|
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The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton Appleton, WI | 58 | ||
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Northland College Ashland, WI | 13 : 1 | 609 | |
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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI | 24 : 1 | 12,452 | |