The Most Affordable Colleges in Wisconsin That Actually Graduate Their Students

University of Wisconsin-Madison offers the strongest combination of affordability and graduation rate among public colleges in Wisconsin, graduating 89% of students within six years at $12,251 in-state tuition. This ranking covers Wisconsin’s public four-year colleges, ranked by six-year graduation rate per thousand dollars of in-state tuition, using federal IPEDS data.

Rank	College	City	6-Year Grad Rate	In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Median ACT
1	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Madison	89%	$12,251	$25,577	29
2	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	Eau Claire	68%	$9,601	$20,016	24
3	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	La Crosse	71%	$10,124	$20,110	24
4	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	Whitewater	64%	$9,585	$19,665	21
5	University of Wisconsin-Platteville	Platteville	62%	$9,275	$18,635	23
6	University of Wisconsin-River Falls	River Falls	61%	$9,321	$18,802	21
7	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh	Oshkosh	58%	$9,481	$19,171	20
8	University of Wisconsin-Stout	Menomonie	53%	$8,973	$17,619	22
9	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point	Stevens Point	56%	$9,599	$19,239	22
10	University of Wisconsin-Green Bay	Green Bay	53%	$9,571	$19,126	21

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates 89% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $12,251 per year. Out-of-state students pay $25,577. Median ACT: 29.

https://www.wisc.edu/

2. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire graduates 68% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $9,601 per year. Out-of-state students pay $20,016. Median ACT: 24.

https://www.uwec.edu/

3. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduates 71% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $10,124 per year. Out-of-state students pay $20,110. Median ACT: 24.

https://www.uwlax.edu/

4. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduates 64% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $9,585 per year. Out-of-state students pay $19,665. Median ACT: 21.

https://www.uww.edu/

5. University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Platteville graduates 62% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $9,275 per year. Out-of-state students pay $18,635. Median ACT: 23.

https://www.uwplatt.edu/

6. University of Wisconsin-River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates 61% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $9,321 per year. Out-of-state students pay $18,802. Median ACT: 21.

https://www.uwrf.edu/

7. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh graduates 58% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $9,481 per year. Out-of-state students pay $19,171. Median ACT: 20.

https://www.uwosh.edu/

8. University of Wisconsin-Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Stout graduates 53% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $8,973 per year. Out-of-state students pay $17,619. Median ACT: 22.

https://www.uwstout.edu/

9. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduates 56% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $9,599 per year. Out-of-state students pay $19,239. Median ACT: 22.

https://www.uwsp.edu/

10. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay graduates 53% of its students within six years at an in-state tuition of $9,571 per year. Out-of-state students pay $19,126. Median ACT: 21.

https://www.uwgb.edu/

How were these colleges ranked?

These rankings score each public four-year college in Wisconsin by dividing its six-year graduation rate by its in-state tuition per thousand dollars. A school graduating 60% of students at $10,000 in-state tuition scores 6.0; one graduating 60% at $20,000 scores 3.0. Higher score means more degree completions per dollar spent.

Data comes from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the federal government’s official higher education database. Graduation rates reflect the most recent six-year cohort. Only public four-year bachelor’s-granting institutions with at least 100 students in the graduation cohort are included. The ranking covers 17 qualifying public institutions in Wisconsin.

Source: IPEDS — National Center for Education Statistics

Data from IPEDS 2022 reporting year. Published September 2026.

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