Colleges where the most freshmen return in Wisconsin
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Wisconsin15 schools
15 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
How this list is made
- Schools in Wisconsin.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Wisconsin
- 96% of freshmen return
- 90% graduate
- 2
Bellin College
Green Bay, WI · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- 95% of freshmen return
- 63% graduate
- 3
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit#3 in Wisconsin
- 91% of freshmen return
- 83% graduate
- 4
Maranatha Baptist University
Watertown, WI · Private nonprofit#7 in Wisconsin
- 88% of freshmen return
- 64% graduate
- 5
Lawrence University
Appleton, WI · Private nonprofit#2 in Wisconsin
- 87% of freshmen return
- 77% graduate
- 6
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI · Public#5 in Wisconsin
- 87% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 7
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- 84% of freshmen return
- 67% graduate
- 8
Saint Norbert College
De Pere, WI · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- 84% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 9
- 10
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 80% of freshmen return
- 67% graduate
- 11
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- 78% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 12
Concordia University-Wisconsin
Mequon, WI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- 78% of freshmen return
- 68% graduate
- 13
Viterbo University
La Crosse, WI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- 76% of freshmen return
- 68% graduate
- 14
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 73% of freshmen return
- 64% graduate
- 15
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% |
| Bellin College | $37,408 | $18,000 | $76,222 | 63% |
| Marquette University | $31,487 | $23,940 | $78,257 | 83% |
| Maranatha Baptist University | $26,005 | $14,143 | $45,593 | 64% |
| Lawrence University | $23,401 | $26,000 | $55,789 | 77% |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | $16,210 | $22,500 | $60,378 | 71% |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | $22,453 | $27,000 | $89,070 | 67% |
| Saint Norbert College | $26,172 | $26,731 | $58,363 | 71% |
| Beloit College | $21,526 | $25,738 | $53,260 | 71% |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design | $26,541 | $27,000 | $41,174 | 67% |
| Carroll University | $15,193 | $27,000 | $58,009 | 71% |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | $36,201 | $25,750 | $56,075 | 68% |
| Viterbo University | $21,260 | $25,000 | $55,660 | 68% |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | $23,245 | $26,000 | $54,664 | 64% |
| Ripon College | $20,216 | $27,000 | $54,902 | 63% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13