Colleges in Wisconsin
This page aggregates every Title IV–eligible college and university with a primary campus in Wisconsin, drawing from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, IPEDS institutional reports, and de-identified IRS earnings linkage for federal-aid recipients. Coverage includes public flagships, regional comprehensives, community and technical colleges, private nonprofit institutions, and for-profit schools.
The state-aggregate statistics below include all reporting institutions in Wisconsin as a single denominator — community colleges, public universities, private nonprofits, and for-profit institutions are pooled. State averages are therefore useful for high-level framing (in-state tuition is X, average admission rate is Y, average earnings are Z) but should not be read as representative of any specific sector or institution. Drill into individual school profiles for the full picture: admissions, costs (sticker and net), federal-aid usage, completion, retention, demographics, and earnings outcomes 6 and 10 years after enrollment.
The most-recent Scorecard release is from September 2024. Tuition figures reflect institutional reports for the 2022–23 academic year and may differ from current-year prices. Earnings data has an inherent lag — the 10-year earnings horizon reflects students who enrolled approximately a decade prior to the data publication, as the IRS-matching process requires time to accumulate post-enrollment income.
Largest Colleges in Wisconsin by Enrollment
Highest Earnings 10-Year Median — Wisconsin
What the IPEDS Data Shows for Colleges in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has 85 Title IV-participating postsecondary institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the federal directory that captures every college eligible to award federal student aid. The ownership mix is 32 public institutions, 0 private nonprofits, and 0 private for-profit schools — a structural split that drives most of the tuition variation visible in the table below. Public institutions typically report substantially lower in-state tuition because state appropriations subsidize the published price, while private nonprofits often show higher sticker prices that are partially offset by institutional aid.
Cost and selectivity signals vary widely even within a single state. The average in-state tuition across Wisconsin institutions is $19,335, and the average admission rate (weighted by institutions that report one) sits at 79.9%. Admission rates from IPEDS exclude open-enrollment institutions, which is why community colleges and many for-profits show as unreported rather than at 100 percent. Looking at the table, the acceptance-rate column is blank for schools that don’t screen applicants, a meaningful distinction when evaluating selectivity alongside earnings.
Post-graduation outcomes tie cost to return. Graduates of Wisconsin colleges earn a mean of $45,154 ten years after enrollment, based on U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal aid applicants through the College Scorecard data file. Because earnings depend heavily on field of study and local labor markets, state-level averages should be read alongside each school’s program mix. The table sorts every institution with reported IPEDS enrollment so prospective students can compare acceptance rates, enrollment scale, and median earnings side by side rather than relying on third-party rankings.
All Schools in Wisconsin
| School Name | City | Type | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison | Public | 36,902 | 45.2% | $73,792 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Public | 16,758 | 90.7% | $54,990 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Public | 12,024 | — | $41,113 |
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Public | 10,073 | — | $45,413 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Whitewater | Public | 9,405 | 85.7% | $55,356 |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | La Crosse | Public | 9,277 | 75.5% | $60,378 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | Eau Claire | Public | 8,895 | 82.3% | $58,561 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 7,660 | 81.3% | $78,257 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | Stevens Point | Public | 7,306 | 91.8% | $52,021 |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | Oshkosh | Public | 6,877 | 86.5% | $55,548 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | Green Bay | Public | 6,341 | 88.6% | $52,528 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | Menomonie | Public | 5,842 | 87.7% | $58,084 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | Platteville | Public | 5,837 | 89.4% | $61,760 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton | Public | 5,825 | — | $45,684 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Public | 5,704 | — | $44,553 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Public | 4,955 | — | $46,894 |
| Gateway Technical College | Kenosha | Public | 4,759 | — | $40,264 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Public | 4,272 | — | $46,297 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls | Public | 4,205 | 81.7% | $54,458 |
| Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | Public | 3,257 | — | $44,925 |
| Western Technical College | La Crosse | Public | 3,183 | — | $45,303 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Kenosha | Public | 2,844 | 75.4% | $51,129 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private Nonprofit | 2,660 | 87.1% | $56,950 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 2,654 | 58.9% | $89,070 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha | Private Nonprofit | 2,523 | 66.8% | $58,009 |
| Herzing University-Madison | Madison | Private Nonprofit | 2,494 | 94.3% | $36,909 |
| Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville | Public | 2,488 | — | $41,620 |
| Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Public | 2,464 | — | $44,371 |
| Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids | Public | 2,288 | — | $42,253 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | Mequon | Private Nonprofit | 2,197 | 78.2% | $56,075 |
| Northwood Technical College | Rice Lake | Public | 2,149 | — | $43,406 |
| Lakeshore Technical College | Cleveland | Public | 1,886 | — | $47,113 |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | Superior | Public | 1,807 | 93.0% | $49,606 |
| Saint Norbert College | De Pere | Private Nonprofit | 1,662 | 85.7% | $58,363 |
| Lawrence University | Appleton | Private Nonprofit | 1,396 | 63.9% | $55,789 |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore | Public | 1,313 | — | $43,470 |
| Viterbo University | La Crosse | Private Nonprofit | 1,249 | 72.4% | $55,660 |
| Lakeland University | Plymouth | Private Nonprofit | 1,212 | 86.3% | $55,961 |
| Edgewood College | Madison | Private Nonprofit | 1,107 | 75.7% | $59,728 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa | Wauwatosa | Private Nonprofit | 1,037 | — | $32,568 |
| Marian University | Fond Du Lac | Private Nonprofit | 1,010 | 75.0% | $53,501 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 943 | 78.2% | $54,664 |
| Beloit College | Beloit | Private Nonprofit | 926 | 63.0% | $53,260 |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 837 | 60.5% | $41,174 |
| Ripon College | Ripon | Private Nonprofit | 688 | 79.8% | $54,902 |
| Nicolet Area Technical College | Rhinelander | Public | 663 | — | $38,643 |
| Alverno College | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 631 | 85.7% | $53,145 |
| Mount Mary University | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | 631 | 62.3% | $48,745 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex | Milwaukee | Public | 543 | 100.0% | $54,990 |
| Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown | Private Nonprofit | 541 | 71.9% | $45,593 |
| Herzing University-Kenosha | Kenosha | Private Nonprofit | 522 | 92.0% | $36,909 |
| Herzing University-Brookfield | Brookfield | Private Nonprofit | 380 | 93.1% | $36,909 |
| Bellin College | Green Bay | Private Nonprofit | 372 | 97.2% | $76,222 |
| College of Menominee Nation | Keshena | Private Nonprofit | 258 | — | $25,853 |
| The Institute of Beauty and Wellness | Milwaukee | Private For-Profit | 186 | — | $31,723 |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University | Hayward | Public | 176 | — | $24,302 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside Flex | Kenosha | Public | 172 | — | $51,129 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee | Wauwatosa | Private For-Profit | 140 | — | $25,122 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha | Kenosha | Private For-Profit | 130 | — | $24,941 |
| Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee | Milwaukee | Private For-Profit | 111 | — | $23,589 |
| VICI Beauty School | Greenfield | Private For-Profit | 109 | — | $32,393 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Janesville | Janesville | Private For-Profit | 102 | — | $23,149 |
| Empire Beauty School-Green Bay | Ashwaubenon | Private For-Profit | 100 | — | $23,589 |
| First Class Cosmetology School | Beloit | Private For-Profit | 92 | — | $26,792 |
| Aveda Institute-Madison | Madison | Private For-Profit | 88 | — | $31,723 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton | Appleton | Private For-Profit | 81 | — | $32,317 |
| East-West Healing Arts Institute | Madison | Private For-Profit | 72 | — | — |
| Milwaukee Career College | Milwaukee | Private For-Profit | 67 | 72.9% | $28,355 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska | Onalaska | Private For-Profit | 67 | — | $30,744 |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals | Green Bay | Private For-Profit | 64 | — | $25,117 |
| The Professional Hair Design Academy | Eau Claire | Private For-Profit | 60 | — | $29,587 |
| State College of Beauty Culture | Wausau | Private For-Profit | 57 | — | $28,037 |
| Rasmussen University-Wisconsin | Green Bay | Private For-Profit | 55 | — | $39,080 |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals | Madison | Private For-Profit | 53 | — | $25,117 |
| Ottawa University-Milwaukee | Brookfield | Private Nonprofit | 41 | — | $55,552 |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals | Appleton | Private For-Profit | 37 | — | $25,117 |
| Advanced College of Cosmetology | Waupun | Private For-Profit | 24 | — | — |
| Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine | Racine | Private For-Profit | 1 | — | $44,136 |
| Medical College of Wisconsin | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Nashotah House | Nashotah | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology | Franklin | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology | Milwaukee | Private Nonprofit | — | — | — |
| Rasmussen University-Wausau | Wausau | Private For-Profit | — | — | $39,080 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Racine | Mount Pleasant | Private Nonprofit | — | — | $32,568 |
| East-West Healing Arts Institute - Milwaukee | Shorewood | Private For-Profit | — | — | — |
Featured Colleges in Wisconsin
Quick picks from this state — compare two schools side by side
Explore More Data
About This Data
School data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS institutional characteristics files. Enrollment, admissions, and earnings figures are the most recently available. Earnings represent median income 10 years after enrollment for students who received federal financial aid, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal student aid applicants.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.