by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Wisconsin, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **32** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 32 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Wisconsin Madison to be the best graduate school in Wisconsin. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Median early-career earnings reach $59,877. Graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
Marquette University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Wisconsin. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. In-state tuition and fees run about $51,170. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,443 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Milwaukee School Of Engineering, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,480. Milwaukee School Of Engineering graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,677. Graduates carry a median of $27,667 in student loans.
Out of the 32 graduate schools in Wisconsin in this year's ranking, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #4 spot. Set in Eau Claire, WI, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Median early-career earnings reach $49,911. The median student debt is $22,574.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin La Crosse one of the top graduate schools in Wisconsin. Set in La Crosse, WI, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,223 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,551.
Concordia University Wisconsin ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Concordia University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school based in Mequon, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,470. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,227. Students borrow a median of $27,172 to complete a degree here.
Saint Norbert College placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. Saint Norbert College is a private not-for-profit school based in De Pere, WI. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,580. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,421 early in their careers. Saint Norbert College students take on a median of $26,578 in debt.
Medical College Of Wisconsin came in at #8 in this year's ranking. 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.
Viterbo University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in La Crosse, WI, Viterbo University is a private not-for-profit institution. Viterbo University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $34,250. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,309 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $29,107 in student loans.
Carroll University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Waukesha, WI, Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. Carroll University posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,890. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,404. Graduates carry a median of $26,904 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Whitewater, WI, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,767. Graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans.
Bellin College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Green Bay, WI, Bellin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Bellin College posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. In-state tuition and fees average $30,658. Median early-career earnings reach $76,907. Graduates carry a median of $24,794 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public school based in Milwaukee, WI. About 53% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,561. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete a degree here.
Edgewood College placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. Edgewood College is a private not-for-profit school based in Madison, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $35,860. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,578. The median student debt is $26,750.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Platteville, WI, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates 61% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,998. Typical student debt is $23,677.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. Located in Oshkosh, WI, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. 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 River Falls did well this year, earning the #17 position. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a public school based in River Falls, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,008, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,577. Graduates carry a median of $24,245 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Menomonie, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $10,701 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,235. Students borrow a median of $25,821 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Stevens Point, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,256 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,161.
Marian University Wisconsin did well this year, earning the #20 position. Marian University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school based in Fond Du Lac, WI. Marian University Wisconsin posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees average $35,204. Median early-career earnings reach $72,102. The median student debt is $27,242.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Green Bay, WI, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay 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 $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,853. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay students take on a median of $24,477 in debt.
Carthage College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Kenosha, WI, Carthage College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $38,750. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,923. The median student debt is $25,708.
Wisconsin Lutheran College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. 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. Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,908. Graduates carry a median of $26,916 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a public school based in Kenosha, WI. About 40% of students finish within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,485 to complete a degree here.
Alverno College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Alverno College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,086. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,790. Graduates carry a median of $34,425 in student loans.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.