Best Colleges in Wisconsin 2026

Wisconsin's top colleges blend academic excellence with practical career preparation across 37 qualifying institutions. Public universities dominate our rankings, claiming four of the top five spots, with the University of Wisconsin system leading through strong research opportunities and competitive graduation rates. The lone private institution, Milwaukee School of Engineering, earns its position through outstanding job placement rates and specialized STEM programs.

When evaluating Wisconsin schools, students should prioritize graduation rates, post-graduation employment outcomes, and program-specific strengths. The state's public institutions offer excellent value, while select private colleges provide focused career training. Consider campus culture, class sizes, and internship opportunities alongside traditional metrics like acceptance rates and test scores.

Schools Ranked

$53,350

Avg. Earnings

57.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	89.3%	$73,792	49.1%	$11,205
2	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, Wisconsin	71.2%	$60,378	74.3%	$9,651
3	Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, Wisconsin	61.4%	$45,684		$4,916
4	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, Wisconsin	67.6%	$58,561	76.6%	$9,277
5	Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, Wisconsin	71.5%	$89,070	63.5%	$48,421
6	Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, Wisconsin	54.1%	$43,470		$4,796
7	Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin	54.1%	$42,253		$4,886
8	Bellin College Green Bay, Wisconsin	74.3%	$76,222	92.9%	$28,211
9	University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin	61.5%	$61,760	85.4%	$8,315
10	Northwood Technical College Rice Lake, Wisconsin	51.5%	$43,406		$4,524
11	Northcentral Technical College Wausau, Wisconsin	48.9%	$44,925		$3,861
12	Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, Wisconsin	49.8%	$44,371		$4,713
13	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, Wisconsin	64.3%	$55,356	82.4%	$8,250
14	Rasmussen University-Wisconsin Green Bay, Wisconsin	62.5%	$39,080		$11,982
15	Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, Wisconsin	46.2%	$46,894		$4,720
16	Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, Wisconsin	46.3%	$46,297		$4,724
17	Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, Wisconsin	46.1%	$44,553		$4,904
18	Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, Wisconsin	42.8%	$47,113		$4,649
19	University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, Wisconsin	60.9%	$54,458	84.5%	$8,606
20	Gateway Technical College Kenosha, Wisconsin	46.6%	$40,264		$4,853
21	Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin	80.1%	$78,257	87.2%	$48,700
22	Western Technical College La Crosse, Wisconsin	39.3%	$45,303		$4,716
23	Nicolet Area Technical College Rhinelander, Wisconsin	45.3%	$38,643		$4,724
24	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, Wisconsin	57.9%	$55,548	88.5%	$8,212
25	University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, Wisconsin	52.5%	$58,084	86.3%	$10,142