Best Economics Colleges in Wisconsin2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Economics program in Wisconsin means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 21 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: University of Wisconsin-Madison leads on selectivity (43% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Wisconsin's Economics programs, the typical in-state price is $25,805 and the average graduation rate is 63%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $37,771 within one year of completing their degree.
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| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonPublic | Excellent· 44 | 43% | 89% | $9,613 | $53,379 | 18:1 | 97 | 35,665 |
| 2 | Lawrence UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 43 | 63% | 76% | $17,215 | $26,884 | 7:1 | 37 | 1,394 |
| 3 | Beloit CollegePrivate | Great· 38 | 57% | 67% | $18,491 | $30,515 | 11:1 | 43 | 898 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-La CrossePublic | Strong· 37 | 73% | 71% | $13,175 | $53,595 | 19:1 | 46 | 9,194 |
| 5 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 87% | 80% | $24,176 | $55,192 | 13:1 | 72 | 7,238 |
| 6 | Carroll UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 58% | 70% | $22,720 | $49,404 | 13:1 | 55 | 2,525 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Eau ClairePublic | Strong· 36 | 76% | 68% | $13,803 | $51,344 | 19:1 | 50 | 8,995 |
| 8 | Saint Norbert CollegePrivate | Strong· 35 | 92% | 74% | $19,828 | $53,350 | 12:1 | 44 | 1,749 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-River FallsPublic | Strong· 34 | 82% | 61% | $14,246 | $42,343 | 17:1 | 54 | 4,152 |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-ParksidePublic | Strong· 34 | 73% | 40% | $10,670 | $40,501 | 18:1 | 43 | 2,951 |
| 11 | Northland CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 72% | 43% | $20,256 | $29,498 | 8:1 | 31 | 457 |
| 12 | Carthage CollegePrivate | Good· 33 | 84% | 61% | $22,692 | $36,493 | 13:1 | 51 | 2,628 |
| 13 | Ripon CollegePrivate | Good· 33 | 84% | 60% | $17,763 | $35,903 | 12:1 | 35 | 720 |
| 14 | Concordia University-WisconsinPrivate | Good· 32 | 68% | 64% | $24,914 | $52,181 | 12:1 | 67 | 2,310 |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterPublic | Good· 32 | 83% | 64% | $14,049 | $46,404 | 20:1 | 50 | 9,180 |
| 16 | Edgewood CollegePrivate | Good· 32 | 95% | 67% | $20,806 | $56,026 | 13:1 | 43 | 1,104 |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin-SuperiorPublic | Good· 31 | 94% | 44% | $12,195 | $41,285 | 17:1 | 40 | 1,899 |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeePublic | Good· 30 | 88% | 51% | $15,762 | $44,327 | 17:1 | 90 | 16,762 |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshPublic | Average· 29 | 87% | 58% | $13,961 | $57,663 | 21:1 | 72 | 7,613 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointPublic | Average· 29 | 90% | 56% | $12,706 | $40,073 | 21:1 | 60 | 7,104 |
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-Green BayPublic | Average· 28 | 88% | 53% | $11,231 | $43,103 | 23:1 | 41 | 6,230 |