Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Wisconsin (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 6 colleges in Wisconsin that report a Liberal Arts earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater leads the list at $60,241, followed by University of Wisconsin-Green Bay at $58,093 and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at $53,957.
Across all 6 schools, the figures range from $60,241 to $49,759, with a median of $53,794.
The list includes 4 public institutions and 2 private nonprofit colleges. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay posts the lowest average net price at $13,369, while University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire reports the highest six-year completion rate at 64%.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater ranks 385th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Liberal Arts Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · Whitewater, WI | $60,241 | $14,158 | $8,440 | 85.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater reports $60,241 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, the top figure on this list, and carries an Azimuth composite rank of 385th among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($60,241) | |||||
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay · Green Bay, WI | $58,093 | $13,369 | $9,144 | 88.6% |
| With an average net price of $13,369, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is the lowest-cost option on the page and admits 89% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (128 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($58,093) | |||||
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI | $53,957 | $16,550 | $10,270 | 82.3% |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire posts a six-year completion rate of 64% and reports median earnings of $53,957 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($53,957) | |||||
| 4 | Alverno College · Milwaukee, WI | $53,631 | $22,540 | $22,032 | 85.7% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Milwaukee, Alverno College ranks 4th on this list and reports an average net price of $22,032 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (30 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($53,631) | |||||
| 5 | Maranatha Baptist University · Watertown, WI | $50,521 | $26,005 | $24,786 | 71.9% |
| Maranatha Baptist University admits 72% of applicants, the lowest admission rate on the page, and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $50,521 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (8 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh · Oshkosh, WI | $49,759 | $14,305 | $9,236 | 86.5% |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh ranks 6th on this list with median earnings of $49,759 for its Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 46%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (22 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Liberal Arts earnings cohort in Wisconsin appear. The figure is the median earnings of federally aided Liberal Arts graduates who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or the characteristics of the students who enroll, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 6 schools with a published figure. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater leads the list at $60,241, which is $2,148 ahead of University of Wisconsin-Green Bay at $58,093.