by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Wisconsin, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **23** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 23 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Fox Valley Technical College tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Wisconsin. Fox Valley Technical College is a public school based in Appleton, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,020. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin La Crosse one of the top colleges in Wisconsin. Based in La Crosse, WI, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,223. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse students take on a median of $23,551 in debt.
Out of the 23 colleges in Wisconsin in this year's ranking, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #3 spot. Located in Oshkosh, WI, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,619 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned it the #4 place in Wisconsin. Located in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,561 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee students take on a median of $26,657 in debt.
Out of the 23 colleges in Wisconsin in this year's ranking, University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #5 spot. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a public school based in Platteville, WI. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $56,998. University Of Wisconsin Platteville students take on a median of $23,677 in debt.
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #6 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public school based in Eau Claire, WI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,531. Graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #7 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Located in Green Bay, WI, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,700, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Median early-career earnings reach $42,853. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay students take on a median of $24,477 in debt.
Moraine Park Technical College landed the #8 spot in Wisconsin this year. Based in Fond du Lac, WI, Moraine Park Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,819, while out-of-state students pay about $7,084. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,552. Moraine Park Technical College students take on a median of $11,471 in debt.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Madison, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,977, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Median early-career earnings reach $44,279. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #10 spot in Wisconsin this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public school based in Eau Claire, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,911. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete a degree here.
Western Technical College La Cross placed #11 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Based in La Crosse, WI, Western Technical College La Cross is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,078. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,479. Graduates carry a median of $13,669 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #12 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. This public school is set in Whitewater, WI. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,767. The median student debt is $25,306.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #13 spot in Wisconsin this year. Based in Stevens Point, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,256. Students borrow a median of $24,161 to complete a degree here.
Lakeshore Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Cleveland, WI, Lakeshore Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $41,252. Graduates carry a median of $11,582 in student loans.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #15 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Located in Green Bay, WI, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,016. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College students take on a median of $14,997 in debt.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Waukesha County Technical College is a public school based in Pewaukee, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Waukesha County Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,398. The median student debt is $16,595.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a public school based in Rice Lake, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,981 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $11,384 in student loans.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #18 spot in Wisconsin this year. Located in Fennimore, WI, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,904 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,147 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,087. Students borrow a median of $12,112 to complete a degree here.
Gateway Technical College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Set in Kenosha, WI, Gateway Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,410. Typical student debt is $14,829.
Northcentral Technical College landed the #20 spot in Wisconsin this year. Based in Wausau, WI, Northcentral Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Northcentral Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,696. Graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans.
Mid State Technical College placed #21 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Based in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Mid State Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, with out-of-state students paying around $7,171. Median early-career earnings reach $41,678. Students borrow a median of $11,626 to complete a degree here.
Milwaukee Area Technical College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public school based in Milwaukee, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Median early-career earnings reach $38,325. Typical student debt is $18,296.
Maranatha Baptist Bible College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Maranatha Baptist Bible College is a private not-for-profit school based in Watertown, WI. Maranatha Baptist Bible College posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Students from in state pay about $21,550 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,298.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside placed #24 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Located in Kenosha, WI, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Parkside posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,270, compared with $17,429 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $40,365. Graduates carry a median of $24,485 in student loans.
Nicolet Area Technical College landed the #25 spot in Wisconsin this year. Nicolet Area Technical College is a public school based in Rhinelander, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,793, with out-of-state students paying around $7,066. Nicolet Area Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,419. Nicolet Area Technical College students take on a median of $11,400 in debt.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.