2021 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin

Best Value

42 results

Milwaukee School of Engineering
4 Year
Milwaukee, WI
457 reviews
#1 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
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 457 Reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
A+
Value
63% Acceptance Rate
$25,917 Net Price
1180-1370 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
University of Wisconsin
4 Year
Madison, WI
3,180 reviews
#2 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Freshman: UW-Madison is a great college! I personally enjoyed the social scene and the beautiful campus. Not only are there multiple course options, but most of the courses offered are extremely interesting. The classes can be time-consuming and difficult depending on your major of study. The hard-work pays off though. Professors are really understanding, especially because of the current pandemic. Madison has a great support system for their students and offers really great resources for tutoring. There is also a great variety of extracurriculars at Wisconsin. If you are interested in joining a fraternity or a sorority, rest assured that Madison's Greek life is very active. If Greek life isn't your style, there are still plenty of other ways to make friends and have fun. Weekends are always a good time at Madison. The bar scene on-campus is fun as well. A good rule of thumb for future UW-Madison students is "Work hard, play hard." Attending UW-Madison will produce a fun college experience!
Read 3,180 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
A+
Value
52% Acceptance Rate
$16,103 Net Price
1300-1480 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Marquette University
4 Year
Milwaukee, WI
2,016 reviews
#3 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Alum: Marquette university IS a pretty acidemic school and you do receive a great education. Campus is cool because there are tons of houses around campus each with their own name that have parties and are super fun to live in with friends once you move "off campus"! Milwaukee is an awesome city I was honestly surprised/ impressed coming from LA . We have the most bars per square ft of any city in America that you WILL frequent as an upperclassman. The city has tons of festivals and Summerfest that happen on closed-off streets. It's a big beer city so you WILL end up going on every brewery tour and its awesome. A lot of seniors do peddle taverns and bike ones where you basically take a bar on wheels or in the water that your group of like 7 peddles with their feet while they serve you drinks . I was in greek life and had a great time, its not anything like the south but its still a good time and I would recommend it. You do not need to be greek at Marquette most people actually aren't
Read 2,016 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A
Value
82% Acceptance Rate
$34,120 Net Price
1120-1320 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Virtual Tour
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
4 Year
La Crosse, WI
1,536 reviews
#4 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Freshman: The University of Wisconsin - La Crosse has a beautiful campus and offers a wide variety of courses, majors, and programs. The campus is the perfect size, enabling students to walk to and from classes in less than 10 minutes. There are unlimited resources encompassed in various halls, and even online, assisting students every step of the way. The dorms create the perfect environment for meeting new friends, and learning how to live in close quarters with others. After classes, the union is the place to go to grab a bite and do homework not in the traditional library setting. However, for those who prefer the library atmosphere, Murphy Library has both talking friendly areas (even with a coffee shop), as well as silent areas. There are copious amounts of activities and resources easily accessible for all students. If you have any questions, the uwlax.edu website will most likely have the answer!
Read 1,536 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A
Value
71% Acceptance Rate
$12,167 Net Price
— SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Lawrence University
4 Year
Appleton, WI
690 reviews
#5 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
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 690 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
A
Value
62% Acceptance Rate
$26,162 Net Price
1200-1430 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Virtual Tour
St. Norbert College
4 Year
De Pere, WI
688 reviews
#6 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Sophomore: I cannot express how much I love SNC! The professors are personal and want to see their students succeed, the campus is absolutely gorgeous, and there are so many ways to get involved and stay busy. Saint Norbert College is also located near several attractions which include parks, trails, coffee shops, stores, and restaurants.
Read 688 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Value
78% Acceptance Rate
$26,540 Net Price
1000-1300 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Carroll University
4 Year
Waukesha, WI
1,183 reviews
#7 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Senior: The Walter Young Center provides excellent support, and accommodations for students with learning disabilities to set them up for success. The teachers are very passionate about the topics they are teaching, and they take the time to make sure the students are understanding the material, yet at the same time they are challenging the students to think bigger, and use critical thinking that is essential in the workforce. The classes are smaller which allows for more one on one with the teachers, this also lets us get to know the teacher and our classmates. I'm so glad I chose Carroll University!
Read 1,183 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Value
69% Acceptance Rate
$23,866 Net Price
1030-1240 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Ripon College
4 Year
Ripon, WI
526 reviews
#8 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Junior: The unique curriculum design with dedicated faculty, diversity, fellowship, and leadership made the choice an easy one to make. I am thankful that I chose to attend Ripon College! I know my education will prepare me for what lies ahead. And the skills both on the soccer field and off, I know I can transfer my leadership skills to a successful career after graduation!
Read 526 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Value
69% Acceptance Rate
$22,830 Net Price
990-1220 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Wisconsin Lutheran College
4 Year
Milwaukee, WI
442 reviews
#9 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Freshman: The campus is small, which can be viewed as a good or a bad thing. The community on campus is very welcoming and friendly! Tons of awesome opportunities to participate in fun events for little to no money, as well as free food ALL THE TIME. Seriously. Every Tuesday is Phat Tuesday and they get a different food from chain restaurants or bakeries. Next week we are having Buffalo Wild Wings.
Read 442 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Value
80% Acceptance Rate
$21,836 Net Price
1020-1290 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Virtual Tour
Edgewood College
4 Year
Madison, WI
548 reviews
#10 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Sophomore: Edgewood College is a great place to be! The location is ideal, as you are in the center of Madison, Wisconsin. Great professors, extra curricular activities, and programs are offered here. Small classes sizes and one on one professors time is readily available!
Read 548 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Value
73% Acceptance Rate
$26,959 Net Price
950-1210 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
4 Year
Eau Claire, WI
1,396 reviews
#11 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Sophomore: I went to UWEC for my freshman year and half a semester for my sophomore year. Great school, beautiful campus, and friendly people. I think there could definitely be more diversity though. Most of my classes were predominantly white, Caucasian people and it was hard to find someone to relate to in my smaller classes. I would say it is a bit cliquey, although most people are open to getting to know others. They have a variety of food and a lot of them include Asian food, but the attempts by non-Asian cooks are mostly a miss. Not to worry though, there is pretty decent sushi to eat! The dorm I lived in wasn't the greatest, but it was manageable. If you live on upper campus, the hill and stairs are torture especially during winter. Many people would slip down the hill if it's not cleared of snow/ice. If you don't want to walk up or down, there is also bus transportation, but they get filled up quick during winter and it takes longer.
Read 1,396 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Value
78% Acceptance Rate
$14,010 Net Price
— SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Virtual Tour
University of Wisconsin - Platteville
4 Year
Platteville, WI
1,054 reviews
#12 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
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 1,054 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Value
82% Acceptance Rate
$14,611 Net Price
— SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Viterbo University
4 Year
La Crosse, WI
399 reviews
#13 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Alum: Coming from a small high school in a little rural town, Viterbo was the perfect fit. I knew my professors personally, whether they were in the nursing program or not. The professors cared about my learning and were accommodating to unexpected life events. The coursework was rigorous but prepared me to be an excellent, compassionate nurse. I met amazing friends and was able to be very active in a variety of clubs on campus. Doing my nursing synthesis in Alaska was the icing on the cake!
Read 399 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Value
76% Acceptance Rate
$20,747 Net Price
1050-1270 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Virtual Tour
University of Wisconsin - Stout
4 Year
Menomonie, WI
983 reviews
#14 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Sophomore: The campus is a bit on the smaller side, making for a closer community! It feels very safe and homely to be there. It's easy to navigate and has plenty of on-campus job opportunities, as well as great resources for internships and co-ops. Overall great instructors and people. Dorms are rather small, though.
Read 983 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
A-
Value
90% Acceptance Rate
$14,767 Net Price
— SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Virtual Tour
Cardinal Stritch University
4 Year
Milwaukee, WI
496 reviews
#15 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Junior: All of the teachers, tutors and advisors are overall incredibly helpful. They always listen whenever any students have any questions, and are always willing to set up meetings whenever we need more help. The campus layout is easy to remember, and there are plenty of quiet places for you to go to and study for upcoming exams. Everyone will always keep you motivated to keep trying your best and will never give up on a student. All of the other students are respectful with one another, and there has never been any fights on campus during my time there. It is an overall very comfortable place to be and is very easy to adapt.
Read 496 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Value
71% Acceptance Rate
$18,107 Net Price
980-1130 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
4 Year
Whitewater, WI
1,320 reviews
#16 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
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 1,320 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Value
76% Acceptance Rate
$12,309 Net Price
890-1110 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Beloit College
4 Year
Beloit, WI
564 reviews
#17 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Alum: Beloit College changed my life! The campus is absolutely magical and enjoyable though all four seasons. The classes prepare you for critical thinking and setting yourself apart from others in the 'real world.' Beloit offered many internship and research opportunities for all majors and departments (even for an English major, like myself) which helped me for my career after Beloit. I made amazing connections with caring professors and amazing people over a nice meal in our dining hall. Campus was always alive with music and students playing frisbee on the quad. There were always lectures, movies and fun student-lead events to attend during the week and weekend. It's like nowhere else!
Read 564 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Value
56% Acceptance Rate
$24,493 Net Price
1080-1380 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Virtual Tour
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
4 Year
Stevens Point, WI
1,079 reviews
#18 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Sophomore: Steven's Point WI is a charming small town that is just the right size to give a homey feel while still having plenty to do. The University is gorgeous and surrounded by nature, including its own reserve, Schmeekle. The class sizes are smaller and more personal, and the professors there are very invested in your academic future than other schools. The campus is known for its diversity and variety of majors and interests as well as student organizations! My personal favorite is the ukulele tree-climbers club.
Read 1,079 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Value
83% Acceptance Rate
$12,797 Net Price
— SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Marian University - Wisconsin
4 Year
Fond Du Lac, WI
255 reviews
#19 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Niche User: I love every single thing about Marian! The people are so helpful and kind. The professors are helpful and very knowledgeable. The area of Fondy is incredible and Lake Winnebago is beautiful! I would not have chosen any other school to spend four years of my life! I think the area and the people combined make the school top-notch in itself. Once you add the stellar athletics to the mix, it just pulls everything together and makes Marian above and beyond. Overall, Marian is a wonderful school that allows so many opportunities to their students on campus, in the classroom, and out in the world.
Read 255 Reviews
C+
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Value
65% Acceptance Rate
$20,020 Net Price
880-1080 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Mount Mary University
4 Year
Milwaukee, WI
434 reviews
#20 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Freshman: Within the first semester of attending Mount Mary, I've already fallen head over heals for the school. It's a very welcoming environment that is diverse and empowering for young women looking to attain their career goals. So far, there isn't anything I would change about the school, there is so much to love about it!
Read 434 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Value
62% Acceptance Rate
$20,156 Net Price
880-990 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
4 Year
River Falls, WI
629 reviews
#21 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Freshman: I love going to school here! The provide a very welcoming environment for growth and education. My only critique would be the lack of activities to do, but that is understandable this year, dealing with Covid-19.
Read 629 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Value
75% Acceptance Rate
$13,530 Net Price
— SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Concordia University - Wisconsin
4 Year
Mequon, WI
828 reviews
#22 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Freshman: I am a freshman in college right now and I absolutely love going to Concordia University! I really love the small class sizes so every student gets an opportunity to develop a one-on-one relationship with their professors. The school is completely connected by tunnels so if there is ever a really cold day and you dont want to go outside, there is no need to! One thing I would say I would like to see change is the food options here. We only have three spots to get food and the cafe food is not very..edible.
Read 828 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Value
65% Acceptance Rate
$25,175 Net Price
898-1156 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
4 Year
Oshkosh, WI
1,380 reviews
#23 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Niche User: I will be an upcoming Freshman at the University of Oshkosh in the fall of 2021. So far I have only toured the campus, but I am in love with it! My tour guide was phenomenal and told me all about the amazing opportunities they offer to all students. She shared about the 5 hours of free tutoring provided on campus and students who will check over your essays. She even shared a personal story that really stuck with me. She had an essay that was due and was struggling with it so she took it to a student who could help. The student helped her raise her previous grade of C to an A. There are so many academic opportunities and the social life seems amazing. I cannot wait to attend the University this upcoming fall!
Read 1,380 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
B+
Value
71% Acceptance Rate
$11,980 Net Price
— SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
4 Year
Milwaukee, WI
3,163 reviews
#24 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
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 3,163 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B
Value
74% Acceptance Rate
$14,822 Net Price
— SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
University of Wisconsin - Superior
4 Year
Superior, WI
268 reviews
#25 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin
Freshman: The international admission team is the best admission team in the Universe, as compared to other international admission team of other Universities and Colleges, that means diversity at University of wisconsin Super stand tall above other diversities in United State of America, the professors are amazing in all aspects, they really deliver to achieve world class education, where students has hands on skills to face the challenges of this advance world. Trust me, the Chancellor Renee and vice Chancellor Marie Curso are in these high position of University of Wisconsin Superior not by mistake, they deserve heights to steer the University, their experience has reach to the extreme of this world, including Africa, especially Uganda.
Read 268 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
B
Value
78% Acceptance Rate
$12,695 Net Price
— SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Sponsored
ECPI University - Newport News, VA
Newport News, VA
2 reviews
Sophomore: The staff at ECPI - Newport News are super. They are so involved with making sure your education needs are met and if you have any questions or concerns, they are they to listen and make changes if they are needed. With COVID 19, the administration did not miss a beat and they were there with online learning solution without delay and our education is going to move on so we do not have any delays with our graduation goal. I would recommend checking them out.
Read 2 Reviews
Will You Get In?Compare
Find College Scholarships
- SponsoredFind Student Loan Options
- 4 Ways to Pay for College
- 2021 Best Colleges for Business
Sponsored
Alverno College
4 Year
Milwaukee, WI
969 reviews
Junior: Alverno College has a unique academic strategy that prepares you for "the outside world". The performance based grading allows for self improvement instead of student to student comparison. Diversity of students is represented as many first generation students attend here! Class sizes are small and professors accommodate to your learning needs. To strive at this college, one must be motivated, dedicated, and have a willingness to grow.
Read 969 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
70% Acceptance Rate
$18,384 Net Price
770-1050 SAT Range
Will You Get In?Compare
Virtual Tour
Sponsored
South University - Richmond
4 Year
Glen Allen, VA
155 reviews
Junior: What I like about South University, is that the staff and the professors want to see the students succeed in the career that they are pursuing. I haven’t felt like I’m a inconvenience to them and that means the world to me. Unlike any other colleges or universities that I’ve been to or seen, they actually have an appreciation week for their students, and that’s honestly needed because college students are overly stressed out at times. One improvement that South University could improve on, is how certain programs are laid out, such as certain information is not always clear or presented. South University is a great school, and I recommend anyone who are looking to further their education to apply there.
Read 155 Reviews
C
Overall Niche Grade
100% Acceptance Rate
$20,681 Net Price
Will You Get In?Compare

2021 Best Value Colleges in WisconsinAbout this List

Best Programs

Students

Social Scene

Campus

Athletics

Milwaukee School of Engineering

University of Wisconsin

Marquette University

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

Lawrence University

St. Norbert College

Carroll University

Ripon College

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Edgewood College

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Viterbo University

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Cardinal Stritch University

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Beloit College

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Marian University - Wisconsin

Mount Mary University

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

Concordia University - Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin - Superior

ECPI University - Newport News, VA

Alverno College

South University - Richmond