Best Colleges in Wisconsin

Meg Whitenton
By
Updated on October 30, 2024
Edited by
Learn more about our editorial process
Read our ranking of the best colleges in Wisconsin to find an affordable and convenient program that fits your needs.

Colleges in Wisconsin include some of the nation’s most respected research institutions — the state houses nearly 100 colleges and universities with prestigious Carnegie classification. The University of Wisconsin Madison is the flagship institution of the state university system, which includes 25 additional campuses across Wisconsin.

Many of the best colleges in Wisconsin offer both on-campus and online programs. Learners can pursue a variety of popular majors and specialized programs, preparing for careers in high-demand areas like technology and medicine. Students can choose from public or private schools, as well as two-year or four-year institutions.

Read on to learn more about our ranking methodology and explore the best colleges in Wisconsin.

Best Colleges in Wisconsin

#1 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Location-markerMadison, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$11,216
  • Out-of-state$37,904
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$10,728
  • Out-of-state$24,054
  • Retention Rate95%
  • Acceptance Rate43%
  • Students Enrolled50,633
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment24%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

  • Location-markerLa Crosse, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$9,773
  • Out-of-state$18,813
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,651
  • Out-of-state$18,637
  • Retention Rate84%
  • Acceptance Rate80%
  • Students Enrolled10,307
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment55%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

  • Location-markerEau Claire, WI
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$4,638
  • Out-of-state$9,258
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,188
  • Out-of-state$18,603
  • Retention Rate82%
  • Acceptance Rate86%
  • Students Enrolled9,416
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment44%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

Beloit College

  • Location-markerBeloit, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$55,810
  • Out-of-state$55,810
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate86%
  • Acceptance Rate57%
  • Students Enrolled964
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment1%
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

Lawrence University

  • Location-markerAppleton, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$53,667
  • Out-of-state$53,667
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate87%
  • Acceptance Rate63%
  • Students Enrolled1,426
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

  • Location-markerWhitewater, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,146
  • Out-of-state$17,688
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,436
  • Out-of-state$18,516
  • Retention Rate78%
  • Acceptance Rate94%
  • Students Enrolled11,522
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment55%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

  • Location-markerStevens Point, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$6,698
  • Out-of-state$15,402
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,066
  • Out-of-state$19,282
  • Retention Rate75%
  • Acceptance Rate89%
  • Students Enrolled8,018
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment58%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

College of Menominee Nation

  • Location-markerKeshena, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$6,000
  • Out-of-state$6,000
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate50%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled281
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment24%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

  • Location-markerOshkosh, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$6,422
  • Out-of-state$13,995
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,108
  • Out-of-state$17,798
  • Retention Rate68%
  • Acceptance Rate89%
  • Students Enrolled13,705
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment36%
  • AccreditationYes
#10 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Location-markerRiver Falls, WI
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$6,428
  • Out-of-state$14,421
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,793
  • Out-of-state$17,274
  • Retention Rate72%
  • Acceptance Rate85%
  • Students Enrolled5,184
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment69%
  • AccreditationYes

badge-checkHow We Rank Schools

At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.

We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2021. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.

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