Best Value Education Colleges in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's education programs span a remarkable cost spectrum, with public universities offering net prices starting at $12,878 while private institutions reach $29,237. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville stands out with the highest graduate earnings at $41,007, nearly $10,000 above the state average for education majors. This earning potential aligns well with Wisconsin's strong educational infrastructure, where major employers like Epic Systems create demand for skilled educators to support their workforce development initiatives. Public universities dominate the value equation here, with UW-Green Bay providing the lowest net cost at $12,878 while still producing graduates earning $37,280. The state's 16 education programs show wide variation in graduation rates, from 41% at Marian University to an impressive 80% at Marquette. Wisconsin's manufacturing and healthcare sectors rely heavily on corporate training programs, creating additional career paths for education graduates beyond traditional classroom teaching roles.

Programs

$12,878 – $29,237

Net Price Range

$36,276

Avg. Program Earnings

60.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

16 Education, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, Wisconsin	$12,878	$37,280	$8,342	53.1%	89.6%
2	University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin	$14,754	$41,007	$8,315	61.5%	85.4%
3	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$16,177	$37,821	$10,020	51.2%	86.3%
4	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, Wisconsin	$14,785	$34,348	$8,250	64.3%	82.4%
5	Beloit College Beloit, Wisconsin	$21,924	$30,926	$58,554	67.2%	65.9%
6	Alverno College Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$16,722		$32,794	50.5%	89.9%
7	Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, Wisconsin	$26,067		$34,250	64.3%	70.4%
8	Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, Wisconsin	$24,659		$20,280	65.7%	75.1%
9	Marian University Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin	$23,341		$33,000	41.2%	71.6%
10	Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$29,237		$48,700	80.1%	87.2%
11	Mount Mary University Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$18,295		$34,390	58.9%	69.5%
12	Northland College Ashland, Wisconsin	$20,780		$42,491	43.3%	68.4%
13	Ripon College Ripon, Wisconsin	$21,176		$50,700	59.9%	81.3%
14	Saint Norbert College De Pere, Wisconsin	$25,674		$44,432	73.6%	83.6%
15	Viterbo University La Crosse, Wisconsin	$22,633		$32,350	65.2%	72.4%
16	Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$21,315		$35,080	62.7%	93.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Wisconsin-Platteville the earnings leader for education majors?

UW-Platteville graduates earn $41,007 annually, the highest among Wisconsin's education programs. The university combines a reasonable net cost of $14,754 with strong career outcomes, producing a 61.5% graduation rate. Platteville's focus on practical skills training aligns with Wisconsin's need for educators who can work in both traditional schools and corporate training environments.

How much can Wisconsin residents save by choosing public over private education programs?

Wisconsin residents pay just $8,250-$10,020 in-state tuition at public universities compared to $20,280-$58,554 at private institutions. The net cost difference is equally striking, with public schools averaging $14,000-$16,000 versus private schools at $16,722-$29,237. Public university graduates also tend to carry less debt, with amounts typically under $22,000 compared to private school averages above $24,000.

Does graduation rate correlate with program cost in Wisconsin education programs?

The relationship between cost and graduation rates varies significantly across Wisconsin schools. Marquette University charges the highest net price at $29,237 but delivers an 80.1% graduation rate. Meanwhile, affordable UW-Whitewater at $14,785 achieves a solid 64.3% rate, and UW-Green Bay at the lowest cost maintains 53.1%. Several mid-priced private schools like Beloit College show strong 67.2% completion rates.

Where do Wisconsin education graduates find the best job opportunities?

Wisconsin's education graduates benefit from the state's mix of traditional school districts and corporate training roles at companies like Epic Systems and GE Healthcare. Milwaukee area schools like UW-Milwaukee and Marquette provide direct access to the state's largest job market. Rural programs like UW-Platteville and Northland College prepare graduates for smaller districts where teachers often wear multiple hats, commanding competitive salaries due to versatility.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.