Best test-optional colleges in Wisconsin
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Wisconsin34 schools
34 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.
- Admission test policy: considered but not required, or neither required nor recommended (federal admissions data).
- 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
- SAT or ACT not required
- 90% graduate
- 2
Lawrence University
Appleton, WI · Private nonprofit#2 in Wisconsin
- SAT or ACT not required
- 77% graduate
- 3
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit#3 in Wisconsin
- SAT or ACT not required
- 83% graduate
- 4
- 5
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI · Public#5 in Wisconsin
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 6
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 67% graduate
- 7
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 8
Bellin College
Green Bay, WI · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 63% graduate
- 9
Saint Norbert College
De Pere, WI · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 10
Viterbo University
La Crosse, WI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 68% graduate
- 11
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI · Public#12 in Wisconsin
- SAT or ACT not required
- 64% graduate
- 12
Concordia University-Wisconsin
Mequon, WI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 68% graduate
- 13
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 67% graduate
- 14
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 64% graduate
- 15
- 16
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, WI · PublicTop 25% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 56% graduate
- 17
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 64% graduate
- 18
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 57% graduate
- 19
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 55% graduate
- 20
Herzing University-Kenosha
Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 21
Edgewood College
Madison, WI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 60% graduate
- 22
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 59% graduate
- 23
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 51% graduate
- 24
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 49% graduate
- 25
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay, WI · Public#26 in Wisconsin
- SAT or ACT not required
- 48% 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% |
| 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% |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | $13,369 | $18,500 | $52,528 | 48% |
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 23
- Arizona 12
- Arkansas 10
- California 100
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 18
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 35
- Georgia 42
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 56
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 29
- Kansas 24
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 21
- Maine 15
- Maryland 25
- Massachusetts 59
- Michigan 40
- Minnesota 35
- Mississippi 10
- Missouri 42
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 5
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 33
- New Mexico 5
- New York 125
- North Carolina 54
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 68
- Oklahoma 14
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 113
- Puerto Rico 32
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 30
- South Dakota 10
- Tennessee 28
- Texas 65
- Utah 8
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 43
- Washington 20
- West Virginia 13