2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Wisconsin
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts students.
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2027 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Nicolet Area Technical College tops our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools in Wisconsin. Located in the rural area of Rhinelander, Nicolet Area Technical College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,793 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,066 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $8,250. Liberal Arts graduates of Nicolet Area Technical College earn a median of $46,419 early in their careers. Set against $8,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.
Moraine Park Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,819, while out-of-state students pay about $7,084. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $39,552 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Milwaukee Area Technical College, which ranked #4. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Students borrow a median of $14,298 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $29,812. Set against $14,298 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blackhawk Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Blackhawk Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Janesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,747, with out-of-state students paying around $6,803. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Blackhawk Technical College generally make around $44,256. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross placed #6 among the best values for liberal arts. Western Technical College La Cross is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,669. Liberal Arts graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $43,479 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid State Technical College earned the #7 position for value in liberal arts this year. Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,626 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $41,678 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,626 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $13,319. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $44,020. That is a strong return on a $13,319 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside earned the #9 position for value in liberal arts this year. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Kenosha. In-state tuition and fees average $8,270, compared with $17,429 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $24,485. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Parkside generally make around $40,365. That is a strong return on a $24,485 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #10 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $45,531. That is a strong return on a $14,234 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #11 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,700, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $54,436. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Gateway Technical College came in at #12 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,829 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $42,410 early in their careers. Set against $14,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater landed the #13 spot for liberal arts value this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $22,251. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $36,904. That is a strong return on a $22,251 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Madison Area Technical College earned the #14 position for value in liberal arts this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $29,018 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #15 among the best values for liberal arts. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Students from in state pay about $8,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Students borrow a median of $21,532 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $38,451. Set against $21,532 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $25,231. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Students borrow a median of $11,875 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $37,558 early in their careers. Set against $11,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned the #19 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,642, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,708 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $43,714. Set against $16,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Alverno College earned the #20 position for value in liberal arts this year. Alverno College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $34,086 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $43,066. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Alverno College generally make around $44,812. That is a strong return on a $43,066 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
More Liberal Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
