by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Wisconsin, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **46** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 46 colleges using more than 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.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our tool College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
No school ranked higher than University Of Wisconsin Madison this year in Wisconsin. Based in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,877. Typical student debt is $21,813.
Marquette University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Wisconsin. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Marquette University posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,170. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,443. Typical student debt is $24,122.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin La Crosse one of the top colleges in Wisconsin. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public school based in La Crosse, WI. About 71% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,070 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,223. The median student debt is $23,551.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Wisconsin. Based in Eau Claire, WI, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Median early-career earnings reach $49,911. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire students take on a median of $22,574 in debt.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Wisconsin. This public school is set in Appleton, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete a degree here.
Saint Norbert College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in De Pere, WI, Saint Norbert College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,580. Median early-career earnings reach $48,421. Graduates carry a median of $26,578 in student loans.
Carroll University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Carroll University is a private not-for-profit school based in Waukesha, WI. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,890. Median early-career earnings reach $52,404. Graduates carry a median of $26,904 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Oshkosh, WI, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,590. Typical student debt is $24,619.
Milwaukee School Of Engineering landed the #9 spot in Wisconsin this year. Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI. Milwaukee School Of Engineering graduates 67% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,480. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,677 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,667 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville placed #10 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. This public school is set in Platteville, WI. University Of Wisconsin Platteville posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,998. The median student debt is $23,677.
Bellin College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Green Bay, WI, Bellin College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,658. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,907 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,794 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Whitewater, WI, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,767 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,306.
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #13 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public school based in Menomonie, WI. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. University Of Wisconsin Stout graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,235. University Of Wisconsin Stout students take on a median of $25,821 in debt.
Concordia University Wisconsin did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Mequon, WI, Concordia University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees average $35,470. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,227. Concordia University Wisconsin students take on a median of $27,172 in debt.
Lawrence University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Appleton, WI, Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $56,982. Typical student debt is $15,699.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls landed the #16 spot in Wisconsin this year. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a public school based in River Falls, WI. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,008 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. Median early-career earnings reach $47,577. University Of Wisconsin River Falls students take on a median of $24,245 in debt.
Viterbo University placed #17 among the best colleges in Wisconsin. Viterbo University is a private not-for-profit school based in La Crosse, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $34,250 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,309. Students borrow a median of $29,107 to complete a degree here.
Medical College Of Wisconsin came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Medical College Of Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI. Graduates go on to earn a median of $118,387 early in their careers.
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #19 spot in Wisconsin this year. Based in Eau Claire, WI, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Median early-career earnings reach $45,531. Graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans.
Moraine Park Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Fond du Lac, WI, Moraine Park Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,819, with out-of-state students paying around $7,084. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,552. Typical student debt is $11,471.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the #21 spot in Wisconsin this year. Based in Rice Lake, WI, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $35,981. The median student debt is $11,384.
Madison Area Technical College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Madison, WI, Madison Area Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. Madison Area Technical College students take on a median of $16,812 in debt.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Stevens Point, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. 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. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,256. Typical student debt is $24,161.
Lakeshore Technical College ranked #24 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, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Lakeshore Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,252. Graduates carry a median of $11,582 in student loans.
Carthage College landed the #25 spot in Wisconsin this year. Based in Kenosha, WI, Carthage College is a private not-for-profit institution. Carthage College posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,750. Median early-career earnings reach $41,923. Carthage College students take on a median of $25,708 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. 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.