U.S. News & World Report recently released its long-awaited 2025 college rankings, and 10 Wisconsin colleges were named to the national list.
Now in its 40th year, the U.S. News rankings consider aspects of a college education that students value, including academic reputation, cost of attendance, campus amenities and resources, graduate student debt and starting salary. This ranking also takes into account the academic programs offered, clubs and activities, diversity, and social culture on campus.
Here are the ratings for the top universities in Wisconsin:
US News’ Best National Universities in Wisconsin 2025
U.S. News ranks nearly 1,500 universities in total, including 436 classified as national universities, and ranks national universities as research with “a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs.” Defined as a production organization.
Six Wisconsin schools ranked among the top national universities by U.S. News:
39th: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 86: Marquette University, Milwaukee No. 315 (tie): Edgewood College, Madison No. 315 (tie): University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee 329: Concordia University, Mequon No. 359 : University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh
More information: Complete National University Rankings by US News
US News’ Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Wisconsin 2025
U.S. News also ranked the best national liberal arts colleges in the country. The publication defines a national liberal arts college as one that “emphasizes undergraduate education and awards at least half of its degrees in liberal arts fields of study.” The list includes 211 schools.
Four schools in Wisconsin are ranked among the best liberal arts colleges in the country.
69: Lawrence University Appleton 90: St. Norbert College, De Pere No. 95: Beloit College, Beloit No. 136: Ripon College, Ripon
More information: U.S. News’ complete “National Liberal Arts Colleges” rankings
US News’ 2025 Midwest Region Best Universities in Wisconsin
US News also ranked the best regional universities in the Northern, Southern, Midwest, and Western regions of the United States. Regional universities were defined as universities that “offer a full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs, but very few doctoral programs.”
Many schools in Wisconsin are ranked among the 165 best regional universities in the Midwest.
2nd Place: Milwaukee Tech (Milwaukee) 20: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire No. 28: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse No. 32: Carroll College, Waukesha No. 34: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater No. 37 : Carthage College, Kenosha No. 41: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point No. 48: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, River Falls No. 60 (tie): Mount Mary College, Milwaukee No. 60 (tie): University of Wisconsin Prattville, Prattville No. 64: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Green Bay No. 67: Albano College, Milwaukee No. 73: Viterbo College, La Crosse No. 79: University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie No. 118: University of Wisconsin Parkside School, Kenosha No. 124 (tie): Marian University, Fond du Lac No. 124 (tie): University of Wisconsin-Superior, Superior No. 131: Maranatha Baptist College, Watertown No. 138: Lake at Plymouth Rand University No. 149-164: Herzing University, Madison
More information: U.S. News’ complete ranking of the Midwest’s Best Regional Universities
Wisconsin universities ranked among other U.S. news lists
Below were Wisconsin’s top schools in other U.S. News rankings.
Best Value School: Marquette No. 51 Top Public School: UW-Madison No. 13 Tied for Best College in the Midwest Region: Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee No. 16
