Most Selective Colleges in Wisconsin
Ranked by acceptance rate (34 colleges with at least 500 undergraduates). Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
| # | College | Acceptance rate | Net price | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public | 45% | $17,354 | $73,792 |
| 2 | Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 59% | $22,453 | $89,070 |
| 3 | Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 61% | $26,541 | $41,174 |
| 4 | Mount Mary University Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 62% | $20,144 | $48,745 |
| 5 | Beloit College Beloit, WI · Private nonprofit | 63% | $21,526 | $53,260 |
| 6 | Lawrence University Appleton, WI · Private nonprofit | 64% | $23,401 | $55,789 |
| 7 | Carroll University Waukesha, WI · Private nonprofit | 67% | $15,193 | $58,009 |
| 8 | Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, WI · Private nonprofit | 72% | $26,005 | $45,593 |
| 9 | Viterbo University La Crosse, WI · Private nonprofit | 72% | $21,260 | $55,660 |
| 10 | Marian University Fond Du Lac, WI · Private nonprofit | 75% | $21,937 | $53,501 |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha, WI · Public | 75% | $11,772 | $51,129 |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, WI · Public | 76% | $16,210 | $60,378 |
| 13 | Edgewood University Madison, WI · Private nonprofit | 76% | $26,113 | $59,728 |
| 14 | Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 78% | $23,245 | $54,664 |
| 15 | Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, WI · Private nonprofit | 78% | $36,201 | $56,075 |
| 16 | Ripon College Ripon, WI · Private nonprofit | 80% | $20,216 | $54,902 |
| 17 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 81% | $31,487 | $78,257 |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI · Public | 82% | $14,054 | $54,458 |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI · Public | 82% | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI · Public | 86% | $14,158 | $55,356 |
| 21 | Alverno College Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | 86% | $22,540 | $53,145 |
| 22 | Saint Norbert College De Pere, WI · Private nonprofit | 86% | $26,172 | $58,363 |
| 23 | Lakeland University Plymouth, WI · Private nonprofit | 86% | $24,212 | $55,961 |
| 24 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI · Public | 87% | $14,305 | $55,548 |
| 25 | Carthage College Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit | 87% | $26,565 | $56,950 |
| 26 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WI · Public | 88% | $17,490 | $58,084 |
| 27 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, WI · Public | 89% | $13,369 | $52,528 |
| 28 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, WI · Public | 89% | $16,032 | $61,760 |
| 29 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI · Public | 91% | $15,014 | $54,990 |
| 30 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI · Public | 92% | $14,559 | $52,021 |
| 31 | Herzing University-Kenosha Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit | 92% | $23,066 | $36,909 |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin-Superior Superior, WI · Public | 93% | $12,220 | $49,606 |
| 33 | Herzing University-Madison Madison, WI · Private nonprofit | 94% | $22,327 | $36,909 |
| 34 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex Milwaukee, WI · Public | 100% | — | $54,990 |