Best colleges in Wisconsin, ranked by ROI

Name: Wisconsin colleges — cost, earnings and ROI rankings
Creator: Degree Dividend

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

We rank all 53 Wisconsin institutions we profile by payback years — total net cost divided by earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The state's median net price is $15,193/yr (below the $16,902 national median), and its graduates earn a median $52,021 ten years out (above the $43,549 national median). Milwaukee School of Engineering leads, clearing its cost in 2.2 years. (Scorecard, 2026.)

$15,193

Median net price / yr

Scorecard, 2026

$52,021

Median earnings, 10 yrs

Scorecard, 2026

11 yrs

Median payback

Our math, 2026

Colleges ranked

degreedividend.com

Wisconsin colleges by payback (best first)

#	College	Net price/yr	Earnings 10y	Payback
1	Milwaukee School of Engineering	$22,453	$89,070	2.2 yrs
2	University of Wisconsin-Madison	$17,354	$73,792	2.7 yrs
3	Marquette University	$31,487	$78,257	4.2 yrs
4	University of Wisconsin-Platteville	$16,032	$61,760	4.8 yrs
5	Bellin College	$37,408	$76,222	5.4 yrs
6	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	$16,210	$60,378	5.4 yrs
7	Carroll University	$15,193	$58,009	6.3 yrs
8	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	$16,550	$58,561	6.5 yrs
9	University of Wisconsin-Stout	$17,490	$58,084	7.2 yrs
10	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh	$14,305	$55,548	8 yrs
11	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	$14,158	$55,356	8.1 yrs
12	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	$15,014	$54,990	9.1 yrs
13	Edgewood University	$26,113	$59,728	9.2 yrs
14	University of Wisconsin-River Falls	$14,054	$54,458	9.2 yrs
15	Saint Norbert College	$26,172	$58,363	10.5 yrs
16	Viterbo University	$21,260	$55,660	11.6 yrs
17	Carthage College	$26,565	$56,950	12.4 yrs
18	Ripon College	$20,216	$54,902	12.4 yrs
19	Lawrence University	$23,401	$55,789	12.6 yrs
20	Lakeland University	$24,212	$55,961	12.7 yrs
21	University of Wisconsin-Green Bay	$13,369	$52,528	12.8 yrs
22	Wisconsin Lutheran College	$23,245	$54,664	14.7 yrs
23	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point	$14,559	$52,021	15.9 yrs
24	University of Wisconsin-Parkside	$11,772	$51,129	17 yrs
25	Marian University	$21,937	$53,501	17.1 yrs
26	Beloit College	$21,526	$53,260	17.6 yrs
27	Alverno College	$22,540	$53,145	18.8 yrs
28	Concordia University-Wisconsin	$36,201	$56,075	18.8 yrs
29	University of Wisconsin-Superior	$12,220	$49,606	39.2 yrs
30	Mount Mary University	$20,144	$48,745	209.3 yrs
31	Lakeshore Technical College	$9,653	$47,113	no payback
32	Waukesha County Technical College	$11,101	$46,894	no payback
33	Chippewa Valley Technical College	$12,285	$46,297	no payback
34	Fox Valley Technical College	$11,407	$45,684	no payback
35	Western Technical College	$11,008	$45,303	no payback
36	Northcentral Technical College	$10,303	$44,925	no payback
37	Northeast Wisconsin Technical College	$9,918	$44,553	no payback
38	Madison Area Technical College	$14,238	$45,413	no payback
39	Moraine Park Technical College	$9,268	$44,371	no payback
40	Northwood Technical College	$8,989	$43,406	no payback
41	Southwest Wisconsin Technical College	$12,896	$43,470	no payback
42	Maranatha Baptist University	$26,005	$45,593	no payback
43	Mid-State Technical College	$10,873	$42,253	no payback
44	Blackhawk Technical College	$9,330	$41,620	no payback
45	Milwaukee Area Technical College	$9,112	$41,113	no payback
46	Gateway Technical College	$12,928	$40,264	no payback
47	Nicolet Area Technical College	$8,255	$38,643	no payback
48	Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design	$26,541	$41,174	no payback
49	Herzing University-Brookfield	$20,514	$36,909	no payback
50	Herzing University-Madison	$22,327	$36,909	no payback
51	Herzing University-Kenosha	$23,066	$36,909	no payback
52	Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa	$14,858	$32,568	no payback
53	College of Menominee Nation	$8,805	$25,853	no payback

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · ranking and payback are our math. Payback uses institution-wide earnings; a specific major can rank very differently.

Colleges in Wisconsin: frequently asked questions

Which college has the best ROI in Wisconsin?

Milwaukee School of Engineering. It charges $22,453/yr after aid and its graduates earn a median $89,070 ten years out, clearing the cost in about 2.2 years — the fastest payback of the 53 Wisconsin colleges we track.

How much does college cost in Wisconsin?

The median net price across Wisconsin colleges is $15,193/yr after grants and scholarships — below the $16,902 national median. That is the actual price the typical aided student pays, not the published sticker.

What do Wisconsin college graduates earn?

A median $52,021 ten years after entry (Scorecard), above the $43,549 national median. Earnings vary widely by school and major — see each college's profile for its own figure.

How many Wisconsin colleges pay for themselves?

30 of the 53 Wisconsin colleges we track clear their cost on institution-wide earnings above the high-school baseline. The rest need a high-ROI major to pay off — the school average alone does not.