by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Wisconsin, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **17** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 17 graduate schools 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Wisconsin Madison to be the best graduate school in Wisconsin. This public school is set in Madison, WI. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,813.
Out of the 17 graduate schools in Wisconsin in this year's ranking, Marquette University landed the #2 spot. 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,443. The median student debt is $24,122.
Out of the 17 graduate schools in Wisconsin in this year's ranking, Bellin College landed the #3 spot. Bellin College is a private not-for-profit school based in Green Bay, WI. About 63% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,658. Bellin College graduates report median early-career earnings of $76,907. Students borrow a median of $24,794 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse, which ranked #4 this year. Set in La Crosse, WI, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,070 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,223. Students borrow a median of $23,551 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Carroll University earned it the #5 place in Wisconsin. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waukesha, WI. About 71% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,890. Median early-career earnings reach $52,404. The median student debt is $26,904.
Medical College Of Wisconsin placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Medical College Of Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $118,387.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #7 spot in Wisconsin this year. Based in Stevens Point, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,256. Graduates carry a median of $24,161 in student loans.
Concordia University Wisconsin came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Concordia University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school based in Mequon, WI. Concordia University Wisconsin posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. Students from in state pay about $35,470 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,227 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,172 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #9 spot in Wisconsin this year. Located in Eau Claire, WI, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,911. Typical student debt is $22,574.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater landed the #10 spot in Wisconsin this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public school based in Whitewater, WI. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,767. The median student debt is $25,306.
Viterbo University did well this year, earning the #11 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in La Crosse, WI. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,250. Median early-career earnings reach $60,309. Students borrow a median of $29,107 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. Located in Oshkosh, WI, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $8,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,619.
Alverno College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Milwaukee, WI, Alverno College is a private not-for-profit institution. Alverno College graduates 51% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,086. Alverno College graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,790. The median student debt is $34,425.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #14 spot in Wisconsin this year. Located in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Median early-career earnings reach $46,561. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete a degree here.
Edgewood College landed the #15 spot in Wisconsin this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Madison, WI. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete a degree here.
Herzing University Madison landed the #16 spot in Wisconsin this year. Herzing University Madison is a private not-for-profit school based in Madison, WI. About 22% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,450. Herzing University Madison graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,203. The median student debt is $30,328.
Mount Mary College placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. Set in Milwaukee, WI, Mount Mary College is a private not-for-profit institution. Mount Mary College graduates 43% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $35,420. Median early-career earnings reach $49,888. Students borrow a median of $26,372 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.