by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Wisconsin, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **25** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 25 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:
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Wisconsin. This public school is set in Madison, WI. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. University Of Wisconsin Madison students take on a median of $21,813 in debt.
Out of the 25 graduate schools in Wisconsin in this year's ranking, Marquette University landed the #2 spot. Marquette University is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. In-state tuition and fees average $51,170. Marquette University graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,443. Typical student debt is $24,122.
You'll be in good company at Milwaukee School Of Engineering, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $50,480. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,667.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Wisconsin. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public school based in Eau Claire, WI. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,911 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,574 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned it the #5 place in Wisconsin. Set in La Crosse, WI, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,223. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse students take on a median of $23,551 in debt.
Concordia University Wisconsin landed the #6 spot in Wisconsin this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Mequon, WI. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Median early-career earnings reach $58,227. The median student debt is $27,172.
Medical College Of Wisconsin ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Milwaukee, WI. Graduates go on to earn a median of $118,387 early in their careers.
Saint Norbert College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in De Pere, WI, Saint Norbert College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Viterbo University placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. Based in La Crosse, WI, Viterbo University is a private not-for-profit institution. Viterbo University graduates 68% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,250. Median early-career earnings reach $60,309. The median student debt is $29,107.
Carroll University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Waukesha, WI, Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. Carroll University posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,890. Median early-career earnings reach $52,404. Students borrow a median of $26,904 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Whitewater, WI, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,767 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,306.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. This public school is set in Oshkosh, WI. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,590. Graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Stout did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Menomonie, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Stout graduates 55% of students 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. Typical student debt is $25,821.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls landed the #14 spot in Wisconsin this year. Located in River Falls, WI, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, compared with $17,470 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,577. Typical student debt is $24,245.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Platteville, WI, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Median early-career earnings reach $56,998. Graduates carry a median of $23,677 in student loans.
Bellin College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Green Bay, WI, Bellin College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $30,658. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,907 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,794.
Edgewood College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $56,578. Edgewood College students take on a median of $26,750 in debt.
Wisconsin Lutheran College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Students from in state pay about $36,110 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,908. Wisconsin Lutheran College students take on a median of $26,916 in debt.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #19 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. 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%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,256 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,161 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Milwaukee, WI, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. In-state tuition and fees run about $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.
Marian University Wisconsin placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Wisconsin. Marian University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school based in Fond Du Lac, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Students from in state pay about $35,204 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $72,102. Graduates carry a median of $27,242 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Green Bay, WI, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,853. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay students take on a median of $24,477 in debt.
Carthage College landed the #23 spot in Wisconsin this year. Carthage College is a private not-for-profit school based in Kenosha, WI. Carthage College posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,750. Carthage College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,923. Graduates carry a median of $25,708 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a public school based in Kenosha, WI. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,270, compared with $17,429 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Parkside students take on a median of $24,485 in debt.
Alverno College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Milwaukee, WI, Alverno College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,086. Alverno College graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,790. Students borrow a median of $34,425 to complete a degree here.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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.