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Wisconsin's public universities deliver strong value for entrepreneurial education, with UW-Whitewater charging just $14,785 net cost while private institutions like Marquette reach $29,237. This $14,452 cost gap reflects the state's commitment to accessible business education in a region where manufacturing giants like Epic Systems and GE Healthcare create abundant opportunities for new ventures. Eight programs span from Milwaukee's urban market to smaller college towns, offering future entrepreneurs multiple pathways into Wisconsin's $63,005 average earnings potential.
8
Programs
$14,785 – $29,237
Net Price Range
$63,005
Avg. Program Earnings
57.6%
Avg. Graduation Rate

8 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $14,785 $8,250 64.3% 82.4%
2 $16,177 $10,020 51.2% 86.3%
3 $20,319 $13,420 27.6% 94.5%
4 $20,780 $42,491 43.3% 68.4%
5 $24,362 $37,230 69.6% 72.1%
6 $24,813 $36,500 60.5% 81.8%
7 $26,067 $34,250 64.3% 70.4%
8 $29,237 $48,700 80.1% 87.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the dramatic cost difference between Wisconsin's cheapest and most expensive entrepreneurship programs?

UW-Whitewater's $14,785 net cost represents nearly half the expense of Marquette University's $29,237 program. Public universities benefit from state funding that keeps costs lower for Wisconsin residents, while private institutions like Marquette offset higher sticker prices with substantial financial aid packages.

How do graduation rates vary across Wisconsin's entrepreneurship programs?

Marquette University leads with an 80.10% graduation rate, while Herzing University-Madison sits at just 27.60%. The public universities UW-Whitewater and UW-Milwaukee achieve solid 64.30% and 51.20% rates respectively, demonstrating that affordable programs can maintain reasonable completion standards.

Is acceptance rate a reliable indicator of program quality in Wisconsin entrepreneurship education?

Acceptance rates range from Northland College's selective 68.39% to Herzing's open 94.48% policy. However, UW-Whitewater combines relatively high acceptance at 82.38% with strong graduation rates at 64.30%, suggesting accessibility doesn't necessarily compromise academic outcomes.

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