Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Wisconsin
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Wisconsin13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
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 median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.2 years
- Earnings $89,070 ten years out
- 2
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Wisconsin
- Pays back in about 2.7 years
- Earnings $73,792 ten years out
- 3
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit#3 in Wisconsin
- Pays back in about 4.2 years
- Earnings $78,257 ten years out
- 4Tie
Bellin College
Green Bay, WI · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- Pays back in about 5.4 years
- Earnings $76,222 ten years out
- 4Tie
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI · Public#5 in Wisconsin
- Pays back in about 5.4 years
- Earnings $60,378 ten years out
- 6
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Pays back in about 6.3 years
- Earnings $58,009 ten years out
- 7
Saint Norbert College
De Pere, WI · Private nonprofitTop 19% for graduation
- Pays back in about 10.5 years
- Earnings $58,363 ten years out
- 8
Viterbo University
La Crosse, WI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Pays back in about 11.6 years
- Earnings $55,660 ten years out
- 9
Ripon College
Ripon, WI · Private nonprofit#16 in Wisconsin
- Pays back in about 12.4 years
- Earnings $54,902 ten years out
- 10
Lawrence University
Appleton, WI · Private nonprofit#2 in Wisconsin
- Pays back in about 12.6 years
- Earnings $55,789 ten years out
- 11
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Pays back in about 14.7 years
- Earnings $54,664 ten years out
- 12
Beloit College
Beloit, WI · Private nonprofit#4 in Wisconsin
- Pays back in about 17.6 years
- Earnings $53,260 ten years out
- 13
Concordia University-Wisconsin
Mequon, WI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Pays back in about 18.8 years
- Earnings $56,075 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | $22,453 | $27,000 | $89,070 | 67% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | $17,354 | $20,484 | $73,792 | 90% |
| Marquette University | $31,487 | $23,940 | $78,257 | 83% |
| Bellin College | $37,408 | $18,000 | $76,222 | 63% |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | $16,210 | $22,500 | $60,378 | 71% |
| Carroll University | $15,193 | $27,000 | $58,009 | 71% |
| Saint Norbert College | $26,172 | $26,731 | $58,363 | 71% |
| Viterbo University | $21,260 | $25,000 | $55,660 | 68% |
| Ripon College | $20,216 | $27,000 | $54,902 | 63% |
| Lawrence University | $23,401 | $26,000 | $55,789 | 77% |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | $23,245 | $26,000 | $54,664 | 64% |
| Beloit College | $21,526 | $25,738 | $53,260 | 71% |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | $36,201 | $25,750 | $56,075 | 68% |
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 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13