Best Colleges in Wisconsin (2023 Rankings)

Thinking of applying for enrollment in one of the top colleges in Wisconsin? You've come to the right place for an introduction to some of the best schools in the state (in no particular order), from large public institutions to small private schools.

To select our top picks, we used a methodology that looked at everything from each school's academic track record to its average class size and graduation rate. Get ready to meet a collection of top colleges that cater to a wide range of different goals and preferences.

University of Wisconsin, Madison

In-state Tuition: $10,742

Out-of-state Tuition: $38,630

Fast facts:

• 32,688 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 57%
• Graduation rate: 66% (4-year), 88% (6-year)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a large public land-grant and research university where you'll find a diverse student body and a faculty that includes 20 Nobel Prize winners and 41 Pulitzer Prize winners. The university offers around 600 different majors and awards bachelor's degrees, doctoral degrees, and everything in between.

Home of the Badgers, UW-Madison also offers plenty of excellent athletics facilities, including 30,000 square feet of workout space, indoor tracks and tennis courts, an Olympic-size pool, and even an ice rink. Join a first-year interest group to make new friends fast or check out more than 1,000 student organizations and clubs you'll find on campus!

You might also like: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee

Marquette University, Milwaukee

Tuition: $45,666

Fast facts:

• 8,024 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 82%
• Graduation rate: 67% (4-year), 84% (6-year)

If you're out to make the world a better place, check out Marquette University, a private Roman Catholic college located in the heart of Milwaukee. Service is a big part of Marquette's commitment to positive social change, and 68% of students participate in the many service opportunities you'll find on campus.

Choose from 78 undergraduate majors, 83 minors, over 70 master's and doctoral degree programs, or pre-professional degrees in Law, Medicine, or Dentistry. You'll enjoy a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio at a school that's been ranked 6th in the nation for job placement!

You might also like: Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee

Lawrence University, Appleton

Tuition: $50,958

Fast facts:

• 1,430 undergraduate students 
• Acceptance rate: 69%
• Graduation rate: 63% (4-year), 79% (6-year)

Lawrence University is a tight-knit private school that offers 65 areas of study to choose from. Known as both a top ranking liberal arts college and the home of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, this is a place where creatives will feel right at home.

Choose from fields of study ranging from music performance, music composition, and art to business and biochemistry. Whether you're into research, live performance, or exploring one of over 50 study abroad programs, Lawrence is a great place to chart your own path.

You might also like: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Tuition: $43,575

Fast facts:

• 2,510 undergraduate students 
• Acceptance rate: 60%
• Graduation rate: 48% (4-year), 70% (6-year)

If you're into hands-on learning and real world impact, then check out the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), a small private college located blocks from Lake Michigan. While MSOE offers one of the nation's top engineering programs, you can also choose from nearly 20 undergraduate degrees and 11 graduate programs.

Whether you want to study architectural engineering, biomedical engineering, nursing, or marketing, you'll gain hands-on experience in your field of choice. You won't find any giant lecture halls at MSOE, just small labs and classes that will allow you to start pursuing your major from the very first year.

You might also like: Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon

St. Norbert College, De Pere

Tuition: $40,885

Fast facts:

• 1,867 undergraduate students 
• Acceptance rate: 84%
• Graduation rate: 69% (4-year), 73% (6-year)

St. Norbert College is a private Catholic liberal arts college that offers over 80 different fields of study. Located on a beautiful riverfront campus right outside of Green Bay, St. Norbert offers degrees in nearly everything  including Humanities, Social Science, Business, and Performing Arts.

Jump right in and explore undergraduate research opportunities, go Greek, or explore one of around 100 student organizations dedicated to everything from martial arts to knitting. Cheer on the 23 NCAA Division III Green Knights sports teams, or get involved with one of the school's intramural sports teams!

You might also like: Mount Mary University, Milwaukee (all-women's college)

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

In-state Tuition: $8,870

Out-of-state Tuition: $17,145

Fast facts:

• 10,310 undergraduate students 
• Acceptance rate: 84%
• Graduation rate: 39% (4-year), 65% (6-year)

Home of the Blugolds, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire sprawls along the beautiful banks of the Chippewa River. Not only does UW-Eau Claire offer impressively affordable tuition rates but also over 200 academic programs.

The university is a particularly great choice for health care students, as it's one of only three in the nation that boasts a research agreement with the world-renowned Mayo Clinic Health System. It's also pretty cool that UW-Eau Claire is one of the state's top producers of Fulbright Scholars!

You might also like: Beloit College, Beloit

Carthage College, Kenosha

Tuition: $31,500

Fast facts:

• 2,637 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 77%
• Graduation rate: 55% (4-year), 62% (6-year)

Carthage College is a private Lutheran school that offers over 50 undergraduate programs, six master's degree programs, and a solid selection of dual degree opportunities. Choose from majors like game development, political science, criminal justice, and more.

The university even offers the chance to design your own major around your unique goals and interests. Whether you're creative, analytical, or a little bit of both, Carthage offers a welcoming campus with plenty of opportunities.

You might also like: Viterbo University, La Crosse

University of Wisconsin, La Crosse

In-state Tuition: $9,160

Out-of-state Tuition: $17,979

Fast facts:

• 9,562 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 75%
• Graduation rate: 44% (4-year), 71% (6-year)

If you want to take advantage of UW's great academic programs on a smaller campus, then check out the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The public university offers more than 130 degree programs, including bachelor's degrees, teaching licenses, and graduate programs.

With a 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio, you'll enjoy plenty of individual attention whether you choose to pursue English, exercise and sport science, or education. Get involved with one of the school's popular student athletics clubs, or show your support for the school's 21 Division III sports teams.

You might also like: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh

Carroll University, Waukesha

Tuition: $34,010

Fast facts:

• 2,957 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 72%
• Graduation rate: 61% (4-year), 70% (6-year)

Home of the Pioneers sports teams, Carroll University claims the honor of the first higher education institution ever established in Wisconsin. The private college routinely ranks as one of the top liberal arts college in the Midwest and offers 95 majors and minors to choose from.

Choose from popular programs such as psychology, nursing, business administration, elementary education, and more! You'll find plenty of unique student organizations and Greek chapters on campus, not to mention a revolving calendar of special events.

You might also like: University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Platteville

Ripon College, Ripon

Tuition: $47,123

Fast facts:

• 816 undergraduate students: 
• Acceptance rate: 74%
• Graduation rate: 60% (4-year), 67% (6-year)

No fewer than 10 of the 27 buildings on Ripon College's beautiful 250-acre campus are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A small private liberal arts and sciences college, Ripon offers over 80 fields of study, a solid 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and small average class sizes of fewer than 20 students.

Choose from a variety of majors such as computer science, studio art, and finance, or sign up for pre-professional advising in programs like journalism, military leadership, law, and medicine.

You might also like: Northland College, Ashland

Wisconsin colleges FAQ

What is the number one best college in Wisconsin?

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is largely considered one of the best in the state due to its huge variety of degree offerings, emphasis on research, and impressive graduation rate.

What is the hardest school to get into in Wisconsin?

With a 57% admission rate, The University of Wisconsin-Madison is the hardest school to get into. That said, 57% isn't bad at all compared to some Ivy League schools that only offer enrollment to less than 10% of applicants!

Find the perfect Wisconsin school with College Rover

Ready to simplify the process of finding the perfect college and program for you? Check out our College Rover search tools that allow you to create customized filters to discover new schools based on your unique preferences.

Whether you want to compare your top choices side by side or find out which colleges offer a certain program, we've got you covered. Because finding the best colleges is really about finding the best choice for your goals and individual needs.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.