List of colleges and universities in Wisconsin

There are eighty-five colleges and universities in the U.S. state of Wisconsin that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW–Madison) is the state's largest public post-secondary institution, with a fall 2023 enrollment of 49,605 students. It is the flagship of the University of Wisconsin System, which includes 25 other campuses.^[1]

• Superior

• Stout

• Eau Claire

• Green Bay

• La Crosse

• Oshkosh

• Parkside

• Platteville

• River
   Falls

• Stevens Point

• Whitewater

• Madison

• Milwaukee

Wisconsin private universities & colleges map

Marquette University in Milwaukee is the state's largest private university, with a fall 2023 enrollment of 11,373 students. With 13,281 in attendance, Madison Area Technical College is the largest Community college of Wisconsin. Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine, is the state's smallest institution, with an enrollment of 47 for fall 2023. Waukesha-based Carroll University is the state's oldest four-year post-secondary institution as it was founded on January 31, 1846, two years before Wisconsin achieved statehood.^[2][3] Beloit College, located in the city of Beloit, was established two days later on February 2.^[4]

Medical College of Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health are the state's only two medical schools.^[5] The state's two law schools, Marquette University Law School and University of Wisconsin Law School, are both accredited by the American Bar Association.^[6][7] The majority of Wisconsin's post-secondary institutions are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission,^[8] but 15 have received accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).^[9] Most are accredited by multiple agencies, such as the National League for Nursing (NLNAC), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Extant institutions

Research universities

List of research universities

Institution	Location(s)[note 1]	Control[note 2]	Type[note 3]	Undergraduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Graduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Founded	Accreditation[10]
University of Wisconsin–Madison	Madison	Public	Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity (R1)	36,797	12,808	1848[11]	HLC, ACPE, ABA, AND, AOTA, APTA, APA, ASHA, AVMA, CCNE, CEPH, JRCERT, LCME, NASD, NASM
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee	Milwaukee	Public	Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity (R1)	18,047	4,434	1956[12]	HLC, AND, AOTA, APTA, APA, ASHA, CCNE, CEA, CEPH, JRCERT, NASAD, NASD, NASM
Marquette University	Milwaukee	Private not-for-profit	Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity (R2)	7,652	3,721	1881[13]	HLC, ACEN, ACME, ABA, ADA, AOTA, APTA, APA, ASHA, CCNE, COA

Doctoral/Professional universities

List of doctoral/professional universities

Institution	Location(s)[note 4]	Control[note 5]	Type[note 6]	Undergraduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Graduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Founded	Accreditation[10]
Concordia University Wisconsin	Mequon	Private not-for-profit	Doctoral/Professional Universities (D/PU)	2,525	2,538	1881[14]	HLC, ACPE, AOTA, APTA, ASHA, CCNE
Edgewood College	Madison	Private not-for-profit	Doctoral/Professional Universities (D/PU)	1,214	787	1927[15]	HLC, CCNE
University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh	Oshkosh	Public	Doctoral/Professional Universities (D/PU)	12,674	1,087	1871[16]	HLC, CCNE, COA, NASM

Master's colleges and universities

List of master's colleges and universities

Institution	Location(s)[note 7]	Control[note 8]	Type[note 9]	Undergraduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Graduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Founded	Accreditation[10]
Alverno College	Milwaukee	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	887	832	1887[17]	HLC, CCNE, NASM
Carroll University	Waukesha	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	2,623	553	1846[18]	HLC, AOTA, APTA, CCNE, CEPH, CNEA
Carthage College	Kenosha	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs (M3)	2,642	129	1847[19]	HLC, CCNE, NASM
Herzing University–Madison	Madison	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	2,181	2,057	1965[20]	HLC, ABHES, ACEN, CCNE
Lakeland University	Plymouth	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	2,318	468	1862[21]	HLC, CCNE
Maranatha Baptist University	Watertown	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs (M3)	759	218	1968[22]	HLC, CCNE
Marian University	Fond du Lac	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs (M2)	1,074	245	1936[23]	HLC, CCNE
Milwaukee School of Engineering	Milwaukee	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs (M2)	2,653	181	1903[24]	HLC, CCNE
Mount Mary University	Milwaukee	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	781	443	1913[25]	HLC, AND, AOTA, CCNE
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire	Eau Claire	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs (M2)	9,304	687	1916[26]	HLC, ASHA, CCNE, NASM
University of Wisconsin–Green Bay	Green Bay	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs (M2)	9,853	473	1965[27]	HLC, ACEN, AND, CCNE, NASM
University of Wisconsin–La Crosse	La Crosse	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	9,378	921	1909[28]	HLC, AOTA, APTA, CEPH, JRCERT, NASM
University of Wisconsin–Parkside	Kenosha	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs (M2)	3,263	745	1968[29]	HLC
University of Wisconsin–Platteville	Platteville	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	6,270	426	1866[30]	HLC, NASAD, NASM
University of Wisconsin–River Falls	River Falls	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs (M2)	4,675	389	1875[31]	HLC, ASHA, MACTE, NASM
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point	Stevens Point	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs (M2)	7,419	690	1894[32]	HLC, AND, APTA, ASHA, CCNE, NASAD, NASD, NASM, NAST
University of Wisconsin–Stout	Menomonie	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	6,093	858	1891[33]	HLC, AND, CEA, NASAD
University of Wisconsin–Superior	Superior	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs (M2)	2,086	640	1893[34]	HLC, NASM
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater	Whitewater	Public	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	9,812	1,707	1868[35]	HLC, APA, ASHA, NASAD, NASM
Viterbo University	La Crosse	Private not-for-profit	Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs (M1)	1,443	858	1890[36]	HLC, AND, ASHA, CCNE, NASM

Baccalaureate colleges

List of baccalaureate colleges

Institution	Location(s)[note 10]	Control[note 11]	Type[note 12]	Undergraduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Graduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Founded	Accreditation[10]
Beloit College	Beloit	Private not-for-profit	Baccalaureate colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus	948	0	1846[3]	HLC
Lawrence University	Appleton	Private not-for-profit	Baccalaureate colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus	1,410	0	1847[37]	HLC, NASM
Ottawa University–Milwaukee	Brookfield	Private not-for-profit	Baccalaureate colleges: Diverse Fields	60	56	1865[38]	HLC
Ripon College	Ripon	Private not-for-profit	Baccalaureate colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus	734	0	1851[39]	HLC
St. Norbert College	De Pere	Private not-for-profit	Baccalaureate colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus	2,089	76	1898[40]	HLC
Wisconsin Lutheran College	Milwaukee	Private not-for-profit	Baccalaureate colleges: Diverse Fields	1,021	73	1973[41]	HLC, CCNE

Baccalaureate/Associate's colleges

List of baccalaureate/associate's colleges

Institution	Location(s)[note 13]	Control[note 14]	Type[note 15]	Enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Founded	Accreditation[10]
Bryant & Stratton College–Wauwatosa	Wauwatosa, Glendale, Racine	Private not-for-profit	Baccalaureate/associate's college	952	1854[42]	MSCHE, ACEN, AOTA, APTA, CCNE
Rasmussen University–Green Bay	Green Bay, Appleton, Wausau	Private for-profit	Baccalaureate/associate's college	154	1900[43]	HLC, ACEN, CCNE

Associate's colleges

List of associate's colleges

Institution	Location(s)[note 16]	Control[note 17]	Type[note 18]	Enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Founded	Accreditation[10]
Blackhawk Technical College	Janesville	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional	2,894	1968[44]	HLC, ADA, APTA, JRCERT
Chippewa Valley Technical College	Eau Claire	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional	6,998	1912[45]	HLC, ACEN, APTA, JRCERT
Fox Valley Technical College	Appleton	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional	10,995	1967[46]	HLC, ACEN, ADA, AOTA
Gateway Technical College	Kenosha	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional	10,134	1972[47]	HLC, ACEN, ADA, APTA
Lakeshore Technical College	Cleveland	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional	2,981	1967[48]	HLC, ABHES, ACEN, ADA, JRCERT
Madison Area Technical College	Madison	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional	13,281	1912[49]	HLC, ACEN, ADA, AND, AOTA, AOA
Mid-State Technical College	Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional	2,918	1911[50]	HLC, ACEN
Milwaukee Area Technical College	Milwaukee	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Traditional	13,190	1912[51]	HLC, ACEN, ADA, AOTA, APTA, JRCERT
Moraine Park Technical College	Fond du Lac	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional	3,532	1912[52]	HLC, JRCERT
Nicolet Area Technical College	Rhinelander	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional	1,206	1967[53]	HLC, ACEN, ADA
Northcentral Technical College	Wausau	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional	5,838	1912[54]	HLC, ACEN, ADA, JRCERT
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College	Green Bay	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional	10,815	1912[55]	HLC, ACEN, ADA, APTA, JRCERT
Northwood Technical College	Shell Lake	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional	2,668	1972[56]	HLC, ACEN, ADA
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College	Fennimore	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional	2,717	1967[57]	HLC, ACEN, APTA, MEAC
University of Wisconsin Colleges	[note 19]	Public			Various	HLC
Waukesha County Technical College	Pewaukee	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional	7,757	1923[58]	HLC, ACEN, ADA
Western Technical College	La Crosse	Public	Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Traditional	3,906	1912[59]	HLC, ACEN, ADA, AOTA, APTA, JRCERT

Special-focus institutions

List of special-focus institutions

Institution	Location(s)[note 20]	Control[note 21]	Type[note 22]	Undergraduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Graduate enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Founded	Accreditation[10]
Bellin College	Green Bay	Private not-for-profit	Special focus institution: Other Health Professions	612	224	1909[60]	HLC, APTA, CCNE, JRCERT
Medical College of Wisconsin	Milwaukee	Private not-for-profit	Special focus institution: Research	0	1,661	1893[61]	HLC, ACPE, ADA, CEPH, LCME
Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine	Racine	Private for-profit	Special focus institution: Other Health Professions	3	44	1979[62]	ACAHM
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design	Milwaukee	Private not-for-profit	Special focus institution: Arts, Music & Design	885	0	1974[63]	HLC, NASAD
Nashotah House	Nashotah	Private not-for-profit	Special focus institution: Faith-Related	0	125	1842[64]	ATSCA
Sacred Heart School of Theology	Franklin	Private not-for-profit	Special focus institution: Faith-Related	0	153	1932[65]	HLC, ATSCA
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary	Mequon	Private Not-for profit	Special-focus institution	0	186	1863[66]
Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology	Milwaukee	Private not-for-profit	Special focus institution: Other Health Professions	0	76	1978[67]	HLC, APA

Tribal colleges

List of tribal colleges

Institution	Location(s)[note 23]	Control[note 24]	Type[note 25]	Enrollment[10] (fall 2023)	Founded	Accreditation[10]
College of Menominee Nation	Keshena	Private not-for-profit	Tribal college	219	1993[68]	HLC, ACEN
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College	Hayward	Public	Tribal college	213	1982[69]	HLC, ACEN

Defunct institutions

List of defunct institutions in Wisconsin

Institution	Location	Control	Founded	Closed	Ref
Brightwood College	Milwaukee	Private for-profit	1937[70]	2018	[71]
Campion College of the Sacred Heart	Prairie du Chien	Private	1880	1925	[72]
Cardinal Stritch University	Milwaukee	Private	1937	2023	[73]
DeVry University–Wisconsin	Milwaukee	Private for-profit	1931[74]	2015	[75]
Dominican College of Racine	Racine	Private	1935	1974	[76]
Downer College	Fox Lake	Private	1855	1964 Merged into Lawrence University	[77]
Gale College	Galesville	Private	1854	1939	[78]
Globe University–Eau Claire	Eau Claire	Private for-profit	1885[79]	2017	[80]
High-Tech Institute–Brookfield	Brookfield	Private for-profit	2006[81]	2014	[82]
Holy Family College	Manitowoc	Private not-for-profit	1885[83]	2020	[84]
Holy Redeemer College	Waterford	Private	1968	1985	[85]
Institute of Paper Chemistry	Appleton	Private	1929	2003 Merged into Georgia Tech	[86]
ITT Technical Institute–Green Bay	Green Bay	Private for-profit	1969[87]	2016	[88]
ITT Technical Institute–Greenfield	Greenfield	Private for-profit	1969[87]	2016	[89]
ITT Technical Institute–Madison	Madison	Private for-profit	1969[87]	2016	[90]
Lakeside School of Massage Therapy	Milwaukee	Private	1985	2011 Merged into Herzing University	[91]
Madison Business College	Madison	Private	1858	1998	[85]
Madison Media Institute	Madison	Private for-profit	1969[92]	2018	[93]
Milton College	Milton	Private	1844	1982	[94]
Mount Senario College	Ladysmith	Private	1962	2002	[95]
Northland College	Ashland	Private not-for-profit	1906[96]	2025	[97]
Northland International University	Dunbar	Private not-for-profit	1976[98]	2015
Northwestern College	Watertown	Private	1865	1995 Merged into Martin Luther College	[85]
Racine College	Racine	Private	1852	1933	[99]
St. Francis de Sales College	Milwaukee	Private	1969	1982	[100]
Sanford-Brown College	West Allis	Private for-profit	1866[101]	2017	[102]
The School of Architecture at Taliesin	Spring Green	Public	1932[103]	2020	[104]
University of Phoenix–Madison Campus	Madison	Private for-profit	1976[105]	2017	[106]
University of Phoenix–Milwaukee Campus	Brookfield	Private for-profit	1976[105]	2017	[106]

Key

Key

Abbreviation	Accrediting agency
AAMFT	American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
ABA	American Bar Association
ACEN	Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing
ABHES	Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
ACICS	Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
ACME	Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education
ACPE	Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
ADA	American Dental Association
ADA	American Dietetic Association
AND	Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
AOTA	American Occupational Therapy Association
APA	American Psychological Association
APTA	American Physical Therapy Association
ASHA	American Speech–Language–Hearing Association
CCNE	Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
CEA	Commission on English Language Program Accreditation
CEPH	Council on Education for Public Health
CNEA	Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation
COA	Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
HLC	Higher Learning Commission
JRCERT	Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Radiologic Technology
LCME	Liaison Committee on Medical Education
MACTE	Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
MEAC	Midwifery Education Accreditation Council
MSCHE	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
NASAD	National Association of Schools of Art and Design
NASD	National Association of Schools of Dance
NASM	National Association of Schools of Music
NAST	National Association of Schools of Theatre
NCATE	National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
NLNAC	National League for Nursing

See also

• Higher education in the United States
• List of college athletic programs in Wisconsin
• List of American institutions of higher education
• Wisconsin Technical College System

Notes

1. Location is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
2. Control is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
3. Types are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
4. Location is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
5. Control is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
6. Types are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
7. Location is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
8. Control is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
9. Types are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
10. Location is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
11. Control is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
12. Types are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
13. Location is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
14. Control is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
15. Types are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
16. Location is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
17. Control is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
18. Types are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
19. Universities in this system include:

    • University of Wisconsin–Baraboo/Sauk County
    • University of Wisconsin–Barron County
    • University of Wisconsin–Fond du Lac
    • University of Wisconsin–Fox Valley
    • University of Wisconsin–Manitowoc
    • University of Wisconsin–Marathon County
    • University of Wisconsin–Marinette
    • University of Wisconsin–Marshfield/Wood County
    • University of Wisconsin–Richland
    • University of Wisconsin–Rock County
    • University of Wisconsin–Sheboygan
    • University of Wisconsin–Washington County
    • University of Wisconsin–Waukesha
    • University of Wisconsin Colleges Online

20. Location is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
21. Control is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
22. Types are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
23. Location is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
24. Control is based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
25. Types are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.