State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in Wisconsin
According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, 72 Wisconsin colleges ranked by average net price, what students actually paid after grant and scholarship aid, not the published sticker price.
- $8,255
- Cheapest net price
- $16,250
- Wisconsin median
- 72
- Schools ranked
Data updated June 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
Nicolet Area Technical College has the lowest average net price in Wisconsin at $8,255/year, and the state's median net price is 5% below the $17,083 national median across 4,942 schools.
- $8,255
- cheapest ranked net price
- $16,250
- Wisconsin median net price
- 30 public / 42 private
- schools in this ranking
- $14,749
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price is the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, not counting loans that must be repaid. A very low figure at a specialty or religious institution can reflect a narrow enrollment mix rather than typical affordability, check the sector label and enrollment before comparing.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Beloit College, where in-state published tuition of $60,886 falls to an average net price of $21,526 after aid, a $39,360 gap. This is the widest sticker-to-net-price gap among ranked Wisconsin schools, and a reminder that published tuition alone is a poor guide to what most admitted students actually pay.
Across all 72 ranked Wisconsin schools, 30 are public institutions and 42 are private (nonprofit or for-profit). Sector is shown next to every school below because a low sticker-adjacent price at a small religious, seminary, or specialty school can reflect an unusual enrollment mix rather than broad affordability, check enrollment and sector before drawing conclusions from rank alone.
Average net price also blends every income bracket into one figure, so a family's own bracket can land well above or below the number shown here. Federal reporting requires an institution to have enough surveyed aid recipients in a bracket before that bracket is published, so a very small school can show only a partial income-bracket breakdown even when its overall average net price is fully reported. Use the school's own profile page for the full income-bracket table before treating a single average as a personal cost estimate.
Wisconsin's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolet Area Technical College Rhinelander, WI · Public | $8,255 85% of the leader · rank #1 | $6,066 | $7,837 | $36,066 | 1,206 |
| 2 | Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Hayward, WI · Public | $8,657 84% of the leader · rank #2 | $8,602 | - | $18,027 | 234 |
| 3 | College of Menominee Nation Keshena, WI · Private nonprofit | $8,805 84% of the leader · rank #3 | $9,136 | - | $25,934 | 219 |
| 4 | Northwood Technical College Ashland, WI · Public | $8,989 84% of the leader · rank #4 | $6,515 | $8,250 | $42,439 | 2,668 |
| 5 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI · Public | $9,112 84% of the leader · rank #5 | $7,200 | $14,955 | $33,057 | 13,190 |
| 6 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond Du Lac, WI · Public | $9,268 83% of the leader · rank #6 | $6,547 | $8,225 | $42,097 | 3,532 |
| 7 | Blackhawk Technical College Janesville, WI · Public | $9,330 83% of the leader · rank #7 | $7,287 | $9,550 | $37,606 | 2,894 |
| 8 | Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WI · Public | $9,653 83% of the leader · rank #8 | $8,260 | $7,000 | $40,673 | 2,981 |
| 9 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI · Public | $9,918 82% of the leader · rank #9 | $7,616 | $11,719 | $39,839 | 10,815 |
| 10 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI · Public | $10,303 81% of the leader · rank #10 | $10,216 | $7,500 | $38,984 | 5,838 |
| 11 | VICI Beauty School Greenfield, WI · Private for-profit | $10,496 81% of the leader · rank #11 | $8,405 | $6,333 | $28,628 | 104 |
| 12 | Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WI · Public | $10,873 80% of the leader · rank #12 | $8,618 | $8,000 | $39,007 | 2,918 |
| 13 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WI · Public | $11,008 80% of the leader · rank #13 | $7,483 | $11,500 | $41,169 | 3,906 |
| 14 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI · Public | $11,101 80% of the leader · rank #14 | $8,472 | $12,000 | $41,251 | 7,757 |
| 15 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI · Public | $11,407 79% of the leader · rank #15 | $8,067 | $10,402 | $42,285 | 10,995 |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha, WI · Public | $11,772 79% of the leader · rank #16 | $7,425 | $20,492 | $42,154 | 4,008 |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin-Superior Superior, WI · Public | $12,220 78% of the leader · rank #17 | $9,679 | $22,500 | $41,868 | 2,726 |
| 18 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI · Public | $12,285 78% of the leader · rank #18 | $9,483 | $11,432 | $43,630 | 8,198 |
| 19 | Aveda Institute-Madison Madison, WI · Private for-profit | $12,568 77% of the leader · rank #19 | $9,662 | $6,333 | $31,535 | 85 |
| 20 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI · Public | $12,896 77% of the leader · rank #20 | $9,918 | $7,500 | $42,360 | 2,717 |
| 21 | The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Milwaukee, WI · Private for-profit | $12,897 77% of the leader · rank #21 | $12,165 | $6,333 | $31,535 | 207 |
| 22 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI · Public | $12,928 77% of the leader · rank #22 | $11,819 | $12,165 | $35,333 | 10,134 |
| 23 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, WI · Public | $13,369 76% of the leader · rank #23 | $9,144 | $18,500 | $46,546 | 10,326 |
| 24 | Advanced College of Cosmetology Waupun, WI · Private for-profit | $13,545 76% of the leader · rank #24 | $11,944 | - | $21,050 | 34 |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI · Public | $14,054 75% of the leader · rank #25 | $8,472 | $20,500 | $46,524 | 5,064 |
See all 72 ranked Wisconsin schools →
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI · Public | $14,158 75% of the leader · rank #26 | $8,440 | $23,188 | $47,909 | 11,519 |
| 27 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Public | $14,238 74% of the leader · rank #27 | $11,920 | $14,060 | $40,928 | 13,281 |
| 28 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI · Public | $14,305 74% of the leader · rank #28 | $9,236 | $21,500 | $50,140 | 13,761 |
| 29 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI · Public | $14,559 74% of the leader · rank #29 | $8,833 | $21,503 | $43,371 | 8,109 |
| 30 | Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa Wauwatosa, WI · Private nonprofit | $14,858 73% of the leader · rank #30 | $14,775 | $21,549 | $27,873 | 952 |
| 31 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI · Public | $15,014 73% of the leader · rank #31 | $10,329 | $23,000 | $45,851 | 22,481 |
| 32 | Carroll University Waukesha, WI · Private nonprofit | $15,193 73% of the leader · rank #32 | $15,718 | $27,000 | $54,456 | 3,176 |
| 33 | Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Janesville Janesville, WI · Private for-profit | $15,809 72% of the leader · rank #33 | $15,503 | $9,333 | $26,036 | 102 |
| 34 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, WI · Public | $16,032 71% of the leader · rank #34 | $9,009 | $21,977 | $54,825 | 6,696 |
| 35 | Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI · Private for-profit | $16,101 71% of the leader · rank #35 | $15,835 | $10,231 | $21,743 | 98 |
| 36 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, WI · Public | $16,210 71% of the leader · rank #36 | $8,224 | $22,500 | $49,626 | 10,299 |
| 37 | Empire Beauty School-Green Bay Ashwaubenon, WI · Private for-profit | $16,250 71% of the leader · rank #37 | $14,767 | $10,231 | $21,743 | 85 |
| 38 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI · Public | $16,550 70% of the leader · rank #38 | $10,270 | $20,909 | $50,011 | 9,991 |
| 39 | State College of Beauty Culture Inc Wausau, WI · Private for-profit | $16,844 70% of the leader · rank #39 | $12,914 | $5,606 | $27,939 | 44 |
| 40 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public | $17,354 69% of the leader · rank #40 | $4,200 | $20,484 | $61,275 | 49,605 |
| 41 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WI · Public | $17,490 69% of the leader · rank #41 | $10,966 | $23,000 | $50,251 | 6,951 |
| 42 | First Class Cosmetology School Beloit, WI · Private for-profit | $17,777 68% of the leader · rank #42 | $17,641 | $10,194 | $20,372 | 104 |
| 43 | The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska Onalaska, WI · Private for-profit | $17,857 68% of the leader · rank #43 | $14,759 | $8,374 | $28,576 | 76 |
| 44 | Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee Wauwatosa, WI · Private for-profit | $18,700 66% of the leader · rank #44 | $18,361 | $10,486 | $28,587 | 111 |
| 45 | The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton Appleton, WI · Private for-profit | $19,436 65% of the leader · rank #45 | $16,783 | $9,991 | $25,461 | 85 |
| 46 | The Professional Hair Design Academy Eau Claire, WI · Private for-profit | $19,451 65% of the leader · rank #46 | $19,891 | - | $19,485 | 75 |
| 47 | Academy of Beauty Professionals Madison, WI · Private for-profit | $19,549 65% of the leader · rank #47 | $18,913 | $6,333 | $19,104 | 65 |
| 48 | Mount Mary University Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | $20,144 64% of the leader · rank #48 | $18,155 | $25,288 | $40,421 | 1,224 |
| 49 | Ripon College Ripon, WI · Private nonprofit | $20,216 64% of the leader · rank #49 | $15,712 | $27,000 | $42,334 | 734 |
| 50 | Herzing University-Brookfield Brookfield, WI · Private nonprofit | $20,514 63% of the leader · rank #50 | $19,996 | $21,500 | $35,295 | 383 |
| 51 | Viterbo University La Crosse, WI · Private nonprofit | $21,260 62% of the leader · rank #51 | $13,657 | $25,000 | $56,804 | 2,301 |
| 52 | Beloit College Beloit, WI · Private nonprofit | $21,526 61% of the leader · rank #52 | $15,176 | $25,738 | $41,660 | 948 |
| 53 | Marian University Fond Du Lac, WI · Private nonprofit | $21,937 61% of the leader · rank #53 | $17,449 | $25,000 | $49,839 | 1,319 |
| 54 | Herzing University-Madison Madison, WI · Private nonprofit | $22,327 60% of the leader · rank #54 | $21,557 | $21,500 | $35,295 | 4,238 |
| 55 | Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | $22,453 60% of the leader · rank #55 | $11,607 | $27,000 | $75,114 | 2,834 |
| 56 | Academy of Beauty Professionals Raymore, WI · Private for-profit | $22,510 59% of the leader · rank #56 | $22,510 | $6,333 | $19,104 | 36 |
| 57 | Alverno College Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | $22,540 59% of the leader · rank #57 | $22,032 | $27,000 | $51,755 | 1,719 |
| 58 | Herzing University-Kenosha Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit | $23,066 58% of the leader · rank #58 | $21,600 | $21,500 | $35,295 | 545 |
| 59 | Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | $23,245 58% of the leader · rank #59 | $18,190 | $26,000 | $49,095 | 1,094 |
| 60 | Lawrence University Appleton, WI · Private nonprofit | $23,401 58% of the leader · rank #60 | $10,419 | $26,000 | $40,653 | 1,410 |
| 61 | Lakeland University Plymouth, WI · Private nonprofit | $24,212 56% of the leader · rank #61 | $22,453 | $25,000 | $49,546 | 2,786 |
| 62 | Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, WI · Private nonprofit | $26,005 53% of the leader · rank #62 | $24,786 | $14,143 | $40,403 | 977 |
| 63 | Edgewood College Madison, WI · Private nonprofit | $26,113 53% of the leader · rank #63 | $22,291 | $24,424 | $53,843 | 2,001 |
| 64 | Saint Norbert College De Pere, WI · Private nonprofit | $26,172 53% of the leader · rank #64 | $19,721 | $26,731 | $49,775 | 2,165 |
| 65 | Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | $26,541 52% of the leader · rank #65 | $21,419 | $27,000 | $29,841 | 885 |
| 66 | Carthage College Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit | $26,565 52% of the leader · rank #66 | $23,293 | $26,000 | $46,116 | 2,771 |
| 67 | Milwaukee Career College Milwaukee, WI · Private for-profit | $27,038 51% of the leader · rank #67 | $22,753 | $7,046 | $30,088 | 73 |
| 68 | The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha Kenosha, WI · Private for-profit | $30,353 45% of the leader · rank #68 | $29,606 | $6,333 | $25,412 | 95 |
| 69 | Marquette University Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | $31,487 43% of the leader · rank #69 | $22,269 | $23,940 | $65,241 | 11,373 |
| 70 | Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, WI · Private nonprofit | $36,201 35% of the leader · rank #70 | $34,991 | $25,750 | $49,761 | 5,063 |
| 71 | Bellin College Green Bay, WI · Private nonprofit | $37,408 33% of the leader · rank #71 | $29,994 | $18,000 | $72,118 | 836 |
| 72 | East-West Healing Arts Institute Madison, WI · Private for-profit | $55,568 4% of the leader · rank #72 | $54,769 | - | - | 44 |
What this means for you
Use Wisconsin's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- Nicolet Area Technical College reports the lowest average net price in Wisconsin, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Nicolet Area Technical
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Wisconsin safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.