Best colleges in Wisconsin
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Wisconsin36 schools
36 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Wisconsin.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Wisconsin
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- 90% graduate
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI · Public#5 in Wisconsin
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 71% graduate
- 6
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 67% graduate
- 7
Maranatha Baptist University
Watertown, WI · Private nonprofit#7 in Wisconsin
- Value grade B-
- 64% graduate
- 8
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 71% graduate
- 9
- 10
Saint Norbert College
De Pere, WI · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- 71% graduate
- 11
- 12
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI · Public#12 in Wisconsin
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 64% graduate
- 13
Concordia University-Wisconsin
Mequon, WI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- 68% graduate
- 14
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Value grade C+
- 67% graduate
- 15
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Value grade B-
- 64% graduate
- 16
- 17
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, WI · PublicTop 25% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 20%
- 56% graduate
- 18
- 19
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 57% graduate
- 20
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 55% graduate
- 21
Herzing University-Kenosha
Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- 72% graduate
- 22
- 23
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 59% graduate
- 24
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 51% graduate
- 25
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 49% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | $17,354 | $20,484 | $73,792 | 90% |
| Lawrence University | $23,401 | $26,000 | $55,789 | 77% |
| Marquette University | $31,487 | $23,940 | $78,257 | 83% |
| Beloit College | $21,526 | $25,738 | $53,260 | 71% |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | $16,210 | $22,500 | $60,378 | 71% |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | $22,453 | $27,000 | $89,070 | 67% |
| Maranatha Baptist University | $26,005 | $14,143 | $45,593 | 64% |
| Carroll University | $15,193 | $27,000 | $58,009 | 71% |
| Bellin College | $37,408 | $18,000 | $76,222 | 63% |
| Saint Norbert College | $26,172 | $26,731 | $58,363 | 71% |
| Viterbo University | $21,260 | $25,000 | $55,660 | 68% |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | $16,550 | $20,909 | $58,561 | 64% |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | $36,201 | $25,750 | $56,075 | 68% |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design | $26,541 | $27,000 | $41,174 | 67% |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | $23,245 | $26,000 | $54,664 | 64% |
| Ripon College | $20,216 | $27,000 | $54,902 | 63% |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | $16,032 | $21,977 | $61,760 | 56% |
| Carthage College | $26,565 | $26,000 | $56,950 | 64% |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | $14,054 | $20,500 | $54,458 | 57% |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | $17,490 | $23,000 | $58,084 | 55% |
| Herzing University-Kenosha | $23,066 | $21,500 | $36,909 | 72% |
| Edgewood College | $26,113 | $24,424 | $59,728 | 60% |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | $14,158 | $23,188 | $55,356 | 59% |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | $14,559 | $21,503 | $52,021 | 51% |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | $15,014 | $23,000 | $54,990 | 49% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wyoming 3