List of Private Universities & Colleges in Wisconsin

Tucked in the Great Lakes region of the United States, the state of Wisconsin is home to nearly six million residents. It is the 20^th largest state by population and 23^rd ranked state by land area and population density. It is adjacent to Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, and Lake Michigan. Wisconsin boasts over 100 accredited universities and colleges across the 72 counties in the state. Over two dozen private colleges can be found in Milwaukee and Madison along with La Crosse and Plymouth. Top ranked private colleges in Wisconsin include Marquette University, Edgewood College, Lakeland College, Mount Mary College, Northland College, and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.

How are Private Colleges in Wisconsin Different than Other Colleges?

Private colleges are higher education institutes that do not accept state funds but rely upon internal operations, grants, donations, and tuition to operate. Private colleges will tend to be substantially smaller than their state university counterparts and provide a more intimate campus setting. Tuition at private colleges is higher that state colleges yet the financial aid packages can be substantial for qualifying students. In fact, a recent article by our team reveals that private colleges average a 49% discount off published tuition accounting for financial aid awards.

Finding the Perfect Private University in Wisconsin for You

Find the perfect private college by using our search tools and get connected with the best degree program within that school by sorting by traditional degrees or online degree options. Wisconsin private colleges offer degree paths from teaching and engineering to hydrology and information technology. Begin your journey with MatchCollege today and collect information from private schools found around the state of Wisconsin.

List of Large 4-Year Private Universities in Wisconsin

There are 9 large private universities in our database for Wisconsin. Follow the links below to get more details about each school.

Large Universities with Research Facilities or Faculty

The universities listed below offer many diverse academic programs, have a large student body, and usually have research facilities or faculty involved with research. These schools very often have graduate and professional programs as well.

Large Primarily Academic Universities

Each university listed below offers a diverse set of degrees and programs, unlike the research universities listed above, these schools contain little to no research activity on campus and are primarily academic.

• Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI
• Concordia University - Wisconsin (CUW) in Mequon, WI
• Herzing University in Madison, WI
• Lakeland College in Plymouth, WI
• Marian University in Fond Du Lac, WI
• Viterbo University (Viterbo) in La Crosse, WI

Small to Medium Sized 4-Year Universities

The 4-year schools listed below have a small to medium sized student body and may offer a wide range of associate and bachelor's degrees. Get more information about each school by clicking the links below.

• Beloit College in Beloit, WI
• Bryant and Stratton College in Milwaukee, WI
• College of Menominee Nation (CMN) in Keshena, WI
• Herzing University in Brookfield, WI
• Herzing University in Kenosha, WI
• Lawrence University (Lawrence) in Appleton, WI
• Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, WI
• Mount Mary College (Mount Mary College) in Milwaukee, WI
• Northland College in Ashland, WI
• Rasmussen College in Green Bay, WI
• Ripon College in Ripon, WI
• Silver Lake College of the Holy Family (SLC) in Manitowoc, WI
• Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI

4-Year Colleges with a Special Focus on an Area of Study

The schools below are grouped by their special area of focus. To learn about admissions, tuition & fees, programs offered, and more click on the school names below.

Technology-Related Schools

• in Greenfield, WI
• Madison Media Institute in Madison, WI

Health Professions Schools

• Bellin College in Green Bay, WI
• Bryant and Stratton College in Wauwatosa, WI

Schools of Art, Music, and Design

• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) in Milwaukee, WI

Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both Wisconsin in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2015: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.