43 colleges ranked by return on investment — based on U.S. Department of Education data.
| # | College / University | ROI Rating | Break-Even | Grad Salary | Med. Debt | Grad Rate | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 |
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI
|
High ROI | 0.5 yrs | $89,070 | $27,000 | 67% | Private Non-profit |
| 🥈 |
Bellin College
Green Bay, WI
|
High ROI | 0.5 yrs | $76,222 | $18,000 | 63% | Private Non-profit |
| 🥉 |
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
|
High ROI | 0.6 yrs | $78,257 | $23,940 | 83% | Private Non-profit |
| 4 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
|
High ROI | 0.6 yrs | $73,792 | $20,484 | 90% | Public |
| 5 |
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, WI
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $61,760 | $21,977 | 56% | Public |
| 6 |
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI
|
High ROI | 1 yrs | $60,378 | $22,500 | 71% | Public |
| 7 |
Edgewood College
Madison, WI
|
High ROI | 1.2 yrs | $59,728 | $24,424 | 60% | Private Non-profit |
| 8 |
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI
|
High ROI | 1.1 yrs | $58,561 | $20,909 | 64% | Public |
| 9 |
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI
|
High ROI | 1.2 yrs | $58,084 | $23,000 | 55% | Public |
| 10 |
Saint Norbert College
De Pere, WI
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $58,363 | $26,731 | 71% | Private Non-profit |
| 11 |
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $58,009 | $27,000 | 71% | Private Non-profit |
| 12 |
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $56,950 | $26,000 | 64% | Private Non-profit |
| 13 |
Ottawa University-Milwaukee
Brookfield, WI
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $55,552 | $21,500 | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 14 |
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $55,548 | $21,500 | 46% | Public |
| 15 |
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $55,356 | $23,188 | 59% | Public |
| 16 |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $54,990 | $23,000 | 49% | Public |
| 17 |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex
Milwaukee, WI
|
High ROI | 1.4 yrs | $54,990 | $23,000 | N/A | Public |
| 18 |
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $54,458 | $20,500 | 57% | Public |
| 19 |
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay, WI
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $52,528 | $18,500 | 48% | Public |
| 20 |
Concordia University-Wisconsin
Mequon, WI
|
High ROI | 1.5 yrs | $56,075 | $25,750 | 68% | Private Non-profit |
| 21 |
Lakeland University
Plymouth, WI
|
High ROI | 1.5 yrs | $55,961 | $25,000 | 42% | Private Non-profit |
| 22 |
Lawrence University
Appleton, WI
|
High ROI | 1.5 yrs | $55,789 | $26,000 | 77% | Private Non-profit |
| 23 |
Viterbo University
La Crosse, WI
|
High ROI | 1.5 yrs | $55,660 | $25,000 | 68% | Private Non-profit |
| 24 |
Ripon College
Ripon, WI
|
High ROI | 1.7 yrs | $54,902 | $27,000 | 63% | Private Non-profit |
| 25 |
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Milwaukee, WI
|
High ROI | 1.6 yrs | $54,664 | $26,000 | 64% | Private Non-profit |
| 26 |
Marian University
Fond Du Lac, WI
|
High ROI | 1.7 yrs | $53,501 | $25,000 | 44% | Private Non-profit |
| 27 |
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI
|
High ROI | 1.6 yrs | $52,021 | $21,503 | 51% | Public |
| 28 |
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Kenosha, WI
|
High ROI | 1.7 yrs | $51,129 | $20,492 | 40% | Public |
| 29 |
University of Wisconsin-Parkside Flex
Kenosha, WI
|
High ROI | 1.7 yrs | $51,129 | $20,492 | N/A | Public |
| 30 |
Beloit College
Beloit, WI
|
High ROI | 1.8 yrs | $53,260 | $25,738 | 71% | Private Non-profit |
| 31 |
Alverno College
Milwaukee, WI
|
High ROI | 1.9 yrs | $53,145 | $27,000 | 49% | Private Non-profit |
| 32 |
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Superior, WI
|
High ROI | 2.1 yrs | $49,606 | $22,500 | 42% | Public |
| 33 |
Maranatha Baptist University
Watertown, WI
|
High ROI | 2.1 yrs | $45,593 | $14,143 | 64% | Private Non-profit |
| 34 |
Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, WI
|
High ROI | 2.5 yrs | $48,745 | $25,288 | 43% | Private Non-profit |
| 35 |
Northland College
Ashland, WI
|
Good ROI | 4.4 yrs | $44,560 | $25,450 | 50% | Private Non-profit |
| 36 |
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Milwaukee, WI
|
Low ROI | 11.3 yrs | $41,174 | $27,000 | 67% | Private Non-profit |
| 37 |
Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine
Racine, WI
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $44,136 | N/A | N/A | Private For-profit |
| 38 |
Herzing University-Brookfield
Brookfield, WI
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $36,909 | $21,500 | 42% | Private Non-profit |
| 39 |
Herzing University-Kenosha
Kenosha, WI
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $36,909 | $21,500 | 72% | Private Non-profit |
| 40 |
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 41 |
Nashotah House
Nashotah, WI
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 42 |
Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology
Franklin, WI
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 43 |
Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology
Milwaukee, WI
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |