2022 Best Test Optional Colleges in Wisconsin

• Madison, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  3,275 reviews

Sophomore: UW - Madison is an outstanding school with unlimited opportunities and resources. Whether it be Greek life, debate club, or athletics, UW has something for everyone. The sense of strong community cohesion in Madison has also eased the college transition experience for me, personally, and I can't imagine a school with better welcome events. Coming from a very small high school, I was initially hesitant about going to such a large institution. Physically, it's a large campus (hence the free student bus pass, which is a huge plus), but mentally and socially it's as big or as small as you make it to be. In terms of academics, I find some classes to be challenging as a STEM major, but the professors are highly intelligent and more often than not are willing to lend a helping hand. Large lecture halls can feel intimidating, but everyone else is in the same boat! The only criticism I have is that UW admitted so many incoming freshman for Fall 2022 that they are running out of housing.... Read 3,275 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 57%

• Net price $14,030

• SAT range 1260-1460

• Milwaukee, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  466 reviews

Freshman: I have just completed by first year at MSOE as a Nursing major. I have to say that I love it. MSOE's professors are very passionate about what they teach to students and are always super helpful. The campus is in a great area with so much to do around, and it is very beautiful. It is a very hard school and you have to have at least a 77 for nursing prerequisites in order to move to the next class. This is a big challenge for a lot of the students as the classes are not easy, but they can be done with persistence and determination. For social life, it is what you want it to be as it is a small school. You have to find your people just like anywhere else! I've met great friends in my 1st year and we have gone out many weekends together and made great memories. There are plenty of parties, sport events, and more for whatever you like. It is a very safe campus, public safety is great! I love MSOE and I would definitely recommend it for those who want a great education.... Read 466 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 60%

• Net price $26,541

• SAT range 1180-1370

• Appleton, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  703 reviews

Alum: Lawrence was a fantastic experience for me. It has the full liberal arts experience, with great integration and collaboration among different departments (especially the conservatory which offers its own bachelor's degree in music) as well as student organizations and community interactions. Professors are approachable and love interacting with students (all undergrads) and offer tons of flexibility for students to choose or create independent study courses. The campus is beautiful. Students are motivated, engaged, creative, and passionate. I graduated in 2012 and the things I learned at Lawrence - technical skills in linguistics and Arabic and music, social skills and networking, ways to think outside the box and take initiative - have served me very well over the past near-decade!... Read 703 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 69%

• Net price $26,594

• SAT range 1190-1410

• Milwaukee, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  2,062 reviews

Sophomore: Marquette University is a really great school! The professors truthfully care about you. They go above-and-beyond to make sure all of their students are succeeding in their classes. Speaking of classes, the size of classes are small and personal. You can make real relationships with your professors and peers. You don't have to worry about not having the time to meet with your professors either, because they will make sure to meet with you whenever you need. There's a lot of clubs to join, too!... Read 2,062 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $34,732

• SAT range 1160-1340

• De Pere, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  720 reviews

Freshman: The surrounding scenery of the campus is enough to make anyone want to enroll, with beautiful shore lines surrounding the Fox river which flows through the campus. The old architecture of the buildings provides a simple yet admirable look to the campus as well as all of the housing blocks and educational buildings being located fairly close so everything is a comfortable stroll away from the next location. Saint Norbert College also offers the third best quality dining options in the nation! De Pere's catholic college provides a new fitness facility and gym, for students and the school's Division 3 athletes to both enjoy usage of. All around, Saint Norbert College of De Pere Wisconsin is among the best options when it comes to liberal arts schools to pursue one's degree at.... Read 720 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $27,854

• SAT range 1020-1220

• Appleton, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  318 reviews

Graduate Student: Over all was a great experience. The staff are very helpful and there to help you grow! The student life there is amazing too. Their own mission states that its knowledge that works, and that's just what they do, teach you and proper you for the career that you've chosen. Even if you haven't decided what you'd like to do, they help and show you what programs best fit your skills and interests! 10/10 would recommend especially if you want a cost effective education.... Read 318 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $10,804

• SAT range —

• La Crosse, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  1,660 reviews

Alum: UW La Crosse is such an inviting and welcoming university! From the excellent professors to the additional activities offered on campus, there is always something to keep you busy. It is very prevalent how much the professors are invested in each student’s education. Although they have high standards and expectations for their students, they walk alongside them and want to see every student succeed. The surrounding environment has a lot to offer as well, whether that be hiking in the bluffs that overlook campus, rollerblading along the Mississippi River, or being involved in one of the many clubs or organizations on campus that are commonly found volunteering within the community. Overall, the environment at UWL makes it easy to find those friendships that will last a lifetime and I am proud to call myself an alum of UWL, a home away from home.... Read 1,660 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $12,302

• SAT range —

• La Crosse, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  214 reviews

Freshman: I love western technical college. fantastic professors! I wish they would update Black board. Everyone is very nice and very attentive to needs and are always willing to help. It is a lovely campus with lovely people. They're food is actually really good, with lots of variety of food to eat. very well priced. Classes have been very good and easy to find and well set up. I also very much appreciate what they have been doing while Covid has been around. They have put social distancing around and limited class numbers. And it has made me feel better about going to school there as I know they will keep me safe as much as they can. They are always changing and keeping up with the times and I appreciate it very much. Everyone has handled this time very well. I also appreciate the flexibility I have received from my professors. They have been so kind and considerate. They always seem to want to help me succeed and help in any way they can. They are a fantastic school to attend!... Read 214 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $9,188

• SAT range —

• Beloit, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  582 reviews

Sophomore: I loved Beloit since the first day. Everyone is extremely friendly, academics are exactly what I was looking for and all the staff is very approachable and helpful. One of my favorite things about Beloit, though, is its campus. It is very beautiful, in every season of the year. It has a lot of open spaces that allow us to connect with nature. Also, all the buildings are great and it is easy to move around. We have a lot of great places to have fun here, such as the Powerhouse, our student union, and Aldrich Field, where we always have a lot going on, like bonfires and festivals. Beloit is very connected to the surrounding community, which I love! One of my favorite buildings, CELEB, our Center for Entrepreneurship, is downtown and there's also the Boathouse by Rock River. To sum up, it's very pretty, comfy and exciting!... Read 582 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 58%

• Net price $24,419

• SAT range 1080-1380

• Fennimore, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  69 reviews

Niche User: I was enrolled at southwest for a year. I loved the classes in business management. It helped me get the knowledge to better equip myself as I continue to pursue my career in management. It has opened my eyes more to a business as a whole and the small but necessary things that are needed to run a business on a day-to-day basis.... Read 69 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $10,115

• SAT range —

• Whitewater, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  1,358 reviews

Alum: Overall my time at UW Whitewater was wonderful! I met some of my best friends there, learned a lot from all of my professors, and enjoyed campus a lot. I lived in student housing for the first two years, and the dorms were, overall, a good experience. They were clean and maintained, and fairly central to everywhere I needed to be on campus. All of the professors were very well versed in their subjects and always seemed to be willing to answer questions and speak with students about anything they needed. Creating my schedule was easy as well through the online applications. I had a job on campus and competed with the Forensics team, which was an amazing experience itself. Competing with the team allowed me to travel and reach farther than my comfort zone to grow my public speaking skills and fight for things that I believe in. I personally found most of the staff helpful and friendly throughout campus. As many schools, some of the dining areas need some improvements.... Read 1,358 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 80%

• Net price $12,522

• SAT range 890-1110

• Shell Lake, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  181 reviews

Niche User: Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is full of great advisors and instructors. Great tutoring program and labs. I know several alumni and current students and all of them along with me will recommend this college. It's also affordable. Much cheaper than other colleges. I like the fact that you can go to the campus labs for help as well. I was having problems, didn't know all this help was possible to keep on track, and was impressed. They are wonderful while working with students with disabilities. I have personal experiences with all of these and cannot be more pleased with Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College!... Read 181 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $9,803

• SAT range —

• Wausau, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  166 reviews

Freshman: Taking my courses fully online so I did not get the full college experience. However, my advisor and professor's have been extremely helpful. They are always willing to spend some time on the phone or Zoom to make sure that I am not having any problems and am understanding the material. This is very important with my courses not being in person!... Read 166 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $10,011

• SAT range —

• Superior, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  278 reviews

Sophomore: UW-Superior, though the smallest UW school, really has a great campus climate and great diversity within its student body. There are variety of majors to choose from, as well as minors, certificate programs, and even some graduate programs! The campus itself is also beautiful.... Read 278 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 86%

• Net price $13,405

• SAT range —

• Mequon, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  850 reviews

Freshman: I loved the environment and the small school community. The professors were great and are super helpful. It is a Christian community and easy to make friends. The bluff is really good place to hang out. One thing that needs improvement is the food. It is not good at all and sometimes even raw or bugs found in it. Otherwise the school is great!... Read 850 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 71%

• Net price $24,569

• SAT range 898-1156

• Green Bay, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  265 reviews

Freshman: Grest school. Flexible schedules available as nd great teachers! You are in classrooms with a diverse group of people. Different ages, races as nd experience. I would recommend this technical college for anyone whether you have just graduated highschool or if you are returning to school in your forties. Not to mention, the cost of most classes is very reasonable. The school offers s greats cyber area, library and cafe. I'm pretty sure they offer child care as well!... Read 265 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $10,207

• SAT range —

• Pewaukee, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  202 reviews

Freshman: My parents attended here and the loved it, so I decided to follow in their footsteps. So far I like it! The classes are good and most of the teachers are fast at community and helping. If I have questions I know who or where to go to get my answers. The school overall give me a good vibe. I start taking in person class this summer, which is exciting.... Read 202 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $9,714

• SAT range —

• Fond Du Lac, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  176 reviews

Freshman: The professors here are incredible! They are very helpful when you have questions or need something explained differently. They truly want to see you succeed.... Read 176 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $9,072

• SAT range —

• Milwaukee, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.53 out of 5  3,222 reviews

Senior: I am a transfer student from UW-Oshkosh, I am now a senior pursuing a double major in Physics and Biomedical Engineering. I am 21 years old. I completed my physics portion at UW-Oshkosh but since they do not have the Biomedical portion I had to transfer to UW-Milwaukee. Cool thing about it though is that all my credits transferred with no problem because it is a dual degree; meaning UW-Oshkosh and UW-Milwaukee will provide 2 degrees for me for when I graduate from my undergraduate. I am pleased with the amount of things I am able to do on and off of campus even with the pandemic happening. Although meeting other students may be a challenge, it is a pleasant environment once on campus! All the buildings provide free resources and free WiFi! The professors are also very understanding during these hard times and are more than happy to help students who have questions! I am one of those students who ask various questions so do not be scared to walk out of your comfort zone!... Read 3,222 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 79%

• Net price $14,444

• SAT range —

• Rhinelander, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  84 reviews

Freshman: The teachers and other staff are fantastic. They do there best to help you through college and try to make you feel as comfortable as possible! I also love the area that Nicolet is at, surrounded by trees and nature. It makes walking around campus relaxing!... Read 84 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $7,414

• SAT range —

• Eau Claire, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  1,458 reviews

Freshman: This college has a really gorgeous campus and a lot of fun opportunities that include floating down the river, a rock climbing course and beach volleyball among other things! Although I wish that there was more diversity throughout the campus, there are a lot of really amazing opportunities for leadership in diversity and equity clubs, along with other clubs and opportunities to help be apart of social change. The intramural clubs and sports have been really fun and UWEC has found a safe way for students to be involved in sports and activities during the global pandemic. I am a biochemistry major on a pre-med route and I have also been able to be a part of a lot of Pre-medicine preparation clubs and meetings, which have been very helpful in regards of what classes to take and where to volunteer to help me get to medical school.... Read 1,458 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $14,276

• SAT range —

• Menomonie, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  1,005 reviews

Sophomore: My experience was great! Access to textbooks, reliable computers and internet across the campus, and the ability to build personal relationships with my professors were factors to my success there and after graduation. I enjoyed my experience so much I am returning for a second degree and eventually my masters.... Read 1,005 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 90%

• Net price $14,951

• SAT range —

• Ashland, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  273 reviews

Senior: I really love the teachers, some of my favorite people were within. The staff mixed with the small number of students means you've got a very personal connection with the teachers, not just being a small drop in an ocean of students but an actual real individual. The classes all benefit from this. Unfortunately, I enrolled at an awful time. They were (and still are somewhat) having troubles with having enough teachers for specific disciplines. For example, not having a teacher for intro to psych and getting the baseball coach instead. Additionally, the costs are pretty extreme. I understand that they are attempting an eco-friendly campus, but when the full academic scholarship isn't even enough to come close to covering just tuition, it is disheartening. I wonder if what the college saves on their emissions gets squandered by lessening the ability for students to afford options that are better for the environment.... Read 273 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 64%

• Net price $20,340

• SAT range 1000-1135

• Eau Claire, WI•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  182 reviews

Senior: I have enjoyed attending Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin via online course education. The option to complete my courses online was an extraordinary opportunity which made it possible for me to follow through with furthering my education. My Professors were amazing! Although my courses were all online my Professors were all readily available, responded quickly to any questions I had arise & were extremely helpful as well as understanding & encouraging. While some may students may have the misconception that online classes are difficult & that this avenue of learning leaves you isolated with Professors who are disconnected, unreachable & uncaring... I am here to tell you that this is absolutely NOT the case at CVTC in Eau Claire. I couldn't be happier with my experiences & my education I received through CVTC. As of this semester I am now transferring on to UW Superior to continue my education to earn my four year degree.... Read 182 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $10,050

• SAT range —

• Platteville, WI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  1,069 reviews

Graduate Student: Quality instructors who understand the material.Clean modules, supportive faculty, and academic advisors are readily available. Preview week is setup for you to get started before the term begins, as there are assignments due weekly, which is beneficial. Assignments include discussions, team projects, quizzes, and papers, all with a fair grading system. Canvas has a user friendly interface, and instructors post their material in a timely manner. Advisors are there to help you each step of the way, and are knowledgeable and supportive. Financial aid is available, but not so much for distance students, many local scholarships it seems. Online library is comprehensive and easy to navigate. Classes are geared towards your major, but also have plenty of elective classes, providing a diverse and well-round educational experience. Many classes are being converted to 8 week module, rather than a full 16 week term, allowing more options and to focus on one class at time... Read 1,069 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 81%

• Net price $14,706

• SAT range —