Best Colleges in Wisconsin of 2024

The University of Wisconsin at Madison offers 600 undergraduate and graduate majors and more than 9,000 courses. With an enrollment approaching 48,000, it's easily the University of Wisconsin's largest university location, along with other UW campuses throughout the state. Hundreds of fields of study are available in various schools and colleges in education, engineering, journalism, language, and law. In 2019 it was rated the #1 university for producing Fortune 500 CEOs, and at least 20 Nobel Prize winners and 41 Pulitzer Prize winners studied there. More than 40 different sports clubs are also available in all major sports, but students can also find clubs for fencing, fishing, Irish dance, karate, squash, wrestling, water skiing, and many more. As a leading research institution, students at UW - Madison can work alongside world-renowned scholars doing research that could have far-reaching effects on the modern world.

Located in downtown Milwaukee, Marquette University is a Catholic Jesuit institution that offers majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Opened in 1881, the university now has 78 undergraduate majors and 83 minors, as well as 70 masters and doctoral programs. More than 20 professional certificate programs are also available. Many undergraduate programs are designed especially for working adults. Study abroad opportunities are available, and about 30% of the university's students study at one of over 80 of the university's partners worldwide. Students can also get involved in community service, multicultural programs, student and graduate student organizations, and arts events that include writing, music, dance, film, visual art, and theater. And through the Les Aspin Center for Government, they can spend a semester or summer working for a member of Congress, the FDA, a private or non-profit organization, or even at the White House.

Located in Appleton, Lawrence University's programs focus on liberal arts and sciences as well as music. The university offers 65 majors, minors, and programs, including a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts & Music dual degree, and Bachelor of Musical Arts. Students interested in pursuing a career in music find a supportive, inspiring, and collaborative atmosphere at Lawrence. They can study various instruments, composition, music performance, music theory, jazz & improvisational music, dance, and vocal arts. The university's enrollment is about 1,500, and with a student-faculty ratio of 8:1 - one of the lowest in the country - students get lots of attention and can work closely with their professors. In addition, several sports programs are available, including volleyball, soccer, football, tennis, and cross country.

One of Wisconsin's oldest institutions of higher learning, Beloit College is also the most diverse college in the entire state - a full 14% of the student body is international students. Students can choose from more than 50 majors and minors in such areas as African studies, ancient Mediterranean studies, biology, chemistry, language studies (Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish), dance and theater, economics and business, journalism, music, philosophy, sociology, and many more. Each student is paired with a faculty member to provide guidance and mentorship for the first two years. With a student-faculty ratio of just 10:1, students get lots of individual attention. They can receive credit for internships, and over 100 programs in 60 countries are available for those who wish to study abroad. More than 60 clubs are also available in many different areas of interest.

One of the top-ranked Catholic liberal arts colleges in the country, St. Norbert College is located in the city of De Pere on the picturesque Fox River. The only Norbertine college in the world, the institution offers over 80 programs of study, including 3 graduate programs. Students can choose to study in the areas of social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, visual and performing arts, business and economics, and health sciences, and extra-divisional programs are offered in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, World Literature, and more. Total student enrollment is about 2,000, and the college has a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. One in three students studies abroad, with more than 60 programs in 30 countries available. The college guarantees that a student who enrolls as a freshman and takes 16 credits per semester without failing or dropping any courses, and who maintains a 2.00 cumulative GPA, will graduate in four years.

Concordia University Wisconsin, located in Mequon, is part of the Concordia University System, a national network of institutions affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod but independently operated. Four associate programs, nearly 100 bachelor's programs, 50+ masters programs, and 10 doctoral programs are offered. In fact, the university has the largest MBA program in Wisconsin. Over 50 undergraduate and graduate certificate programs are also available. Additionally, the university offers education for those seeking a career in the church, such as seminary studies, teacher training, church music, and leadership roles within the church. Chapel services are available seven days a week. Student enrollment is about 8,000. A low student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1 and average class size of 16 give students more opportunities to work closely with professors. Many varsity-level sports are available for both men and women, including basketball, lacrosse, shooting, soccer, tennis, golf, ice hockey, volleyball, and many more.

Located in the heart of Milwaukee near the shores of Lake Michigan, MSOE offers 24 undergraduate programs, nine graduate programs, 14 minors, and nine certificate programs, many focusing on STEM. Students enrolled in a four-year degree program don't have to wait for major-specific courses, as these start in the freshman year curriculum. The average class size is 20, but for labs, it is just 11. Students spend hundreds of hours in industry-standard labs getting lots of hands-on experience and personal attention from their professors. The school has a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 100% of full-time undergraduate students receive financial aid. Students can take advantage of both short-term and year-long study abroad opportunities in Europe, Asia, and Central America. More than 12 varsity sports are offered for both men and women, and several club sports are also available.

Ripon College offers 31 majors and 42 minors, or students can customize a plan with a view to placement in degree programs in engineering, law, medicine, and health sciences. The five-course Catalyst program, spread over three years, is designed to develop essential and sought-after skills such as writing, oral communication, critical thinking, collaboration, quantitative reasoning, and intercultural competence. Eight different sports are offered for both men and women. There are three sororities and five fraternities on campus, and exercise and recreational activities are available. Students can choose from over 60 student-run clubs and organizations, and the nearby city of Ripon and town of Green Lake offer historic neighborhoods, good restaurants, and lots of outdoor activities like fishing, sailing, swimming, diving, kayaking, skating, golf, hiking, tennis, biking, and horseback riding.