by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Wisconsin, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **28** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 28 colleges on more than 20 objective measures 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:
Our analysis found University Of Wisconsin Madison to be the best college in Wisconsin. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete a degree here.
Marquette University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Wisconsin. Based in Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Marquette University posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. In-state tuition and fees run about $51,170. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,443 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,122.
The strong outcomes at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned it the #3 place in Wisconsin. Located in La Crosse, WI, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, with out-of-state students paying around $19,517. Median early-career earnings reach $49,223. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse students take on a median of $23,551 in debt.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Wisconsin. This public school is set in Eau Claire, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,642, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,911. Typical student debt is $22,574.
Saint Norbert College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Wisconsin. This private not-for-profit school is set in De Pere, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,580. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,421. Saint Norbert College students take on a median of $26,578 in debt.
Carroll University placed #6 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Based in Waukesha, WI, Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,890. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,404 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,904.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Oshkosh, WI, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh students take on a median of $24,619 in debt.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville did well this year, earning the #8 position. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,998. Students borrow a median of $23,677 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Whitewater, WI. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,767. Graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Menomonie, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Median early-career earnings reach $54,235. Students borrow a median of $25,821 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls placed #11 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Located in River Falls, WI, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates 57% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,577. The median student debt is $24,245.
Lawrence University placed #12 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Located in Appleton, WI, Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $56,982. Lawrence University students take on a median of $15,699 in debt.
Milwaukee School Of Engineering landed the #13 spot in Wisconsin this year. Set in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,480. Median early-career earnings reach $72,677. Graduates carry a median of $27,667 in student loans.
Bellin College placed #14 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Bellin College is a private not-for-profit school based in Green Bay, WI. Bellin College posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,658. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,907. The median student debt is $24,794.
Concordia University Wisconsin landed the #15 spot in Wisconsin this year. Concordia University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school based in Mequon, WI. About 69% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Median early-career earnings reach $58,227. Typical student debt is $27,172.
Carthage College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Carthage College is a private not-for-profit school based in Kenosha, WI. About 64% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $38,750 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $41,923. Students borrow a median of $25,708 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #17 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public school based in Stevens Point, WI. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,256. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point students take on a median of $24,161 in debt.
Viterbo University landed the #18 spot in Wisconsin this year. Based in La Crosse, WI, Viterbo University is a private not-for-profit institution. Viterbo University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $34,250 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,309. Students borrow a median of $29,107 to complete a degree here.
Wisconsin Lutheran College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Set in Milwaukee, WI, Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,110. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,908 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,916.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $46,561. Graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay did well this year, earning the #21 position. This public school is set in Green Bay, WI. About 53% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,700, with out-of-state students paying around $17,288. Median early-career earnings reach $42,853. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete a degree here.
Edgewood College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Madison, WI, Edgewood College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Students from in state pay about $35,860 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,578 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,750.
Beloit College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Beloit, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,886. Median early-career earnings reach $33,499. Beloit College students take on a median of $25,998 in debt.
Marian University Wisconsin placed #24 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fond Du Lac, WI. About 44% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,204. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,102. Marian University Wisconsin students take on a median of $27,242 in debt.
Lakeland College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Plymouth, WI, Lakeland College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lakeland College posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,396. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,412 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $29,722.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.