Best Community Colleges in Wisconsin 2024
The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Wisconsin offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.
Best Community Colleges in Wisconsin 2024
- Milwaukee Area Technical College
- Most Popular Degrees: Computer Science, Education, and Social Work
- Western Technical College
- Most Popular Degrees: Medical Sciences, Nursing, and Business
- Fox Valley Technical College
- Most Popular Degrees: Criminal Justice, Education, and Engineering
- Gateway Technical College
- Most Popular Degrees: Criminal Justice, Engineering, and Nursing
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
- Most Popular Degrees: Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Education
- Lakeshore Technical College
- Most Popular Degrees: Education, Criminal Justice, and Computer Science
- College of Menominee Nation
- Most Popular Degrees: Education and Political Science
- Waukesha County Technical College
- Most Popular Degrees: Social Work, Criminal Justice, and Education
- Northcentral Technical College
- Most Popular Degrees: Biology, Business, and Criminal Justice
- Chippewa Valley Technical College
- Most Popular Degrees: Engineering, Education, and Criminal Justice
We’ve identified 17 community colleges in Wisconsin. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Wisconsin.
Best Community Colleges in Wisconsin
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
15%
Student body
20K
Career Outlook for degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College
Cost of Degree: $5,017Expenses: $16,900Starting Salary: $33,500Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryMilwaukee Area Technical College is a two-year public community college headquartered in downtown Milwaukee and has other campuses throughout the region it serves.
What we love about MATC:
It offers more than 170 academic programs at certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree levels.
MATC is ideal for students who:
Intend to pursue careers in Practical/Registered Nursing or Business Management.
MATC might not be the best fit for students who:
Consider a low student-faculty ratio or small class sizes to be too intimidating or intrusive.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
42%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for degree at Western Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,716Expenses: $12,862Starting Salary: $37,100Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWestern Technical College is a public open-enrollment institution of tertiary education serving an 11-county area in western Wisconsin.
What we love about WTC:
The curricula at this technical college are designed to provide specific experiences and develop the practical skills required in the workforce.
WTC is ideal for students who:
Thrive in small class sizes where professors can provide individualized instruction and guidance.
WTC might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a high student-faculty ratio for a laid-back approach to achieving their educational goals.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
50%
Student body
17K
Career Outlook for degree at Fox Valley Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,916Starting Salary: $37,300Fox Valley Technical College, a two- year public institution of undergraduate higher education, is based in Appleton and serves a five-county area and portions of four other counties.
What we love about FVTC:
It offers more than 200 academic programs, providing students with high-tech occupational training suitable for the workplaces’ modern-day requirements.
FVTC is ideal for students who:
Want to enhance their career potential by attending a technical college with a track record of 93% employment rate for its graduates.
FVTC might not be the best fit for students who:
Love sports, considering that FVTC doesn’t have a solid athletics program or varsity sports teams.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
45%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for degree at Gateway Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,853Starting Salary: $32,400Gateway Technical College is a public two-year institution of post-secondary education with nine campuses and centers in southeastern Wisconsin.
What we love about Gateway:
Its more than 75 career programs, including 21 online programs, provide hands-on training that grooms at least 21,000 students every year to advance their careers or enter new ones.
Gateway is ideal for students who:
Prefer a technical college that partners with four-year colleges/universities so that graduates can have a seamless transition to bachelor’s degree programs.
Gateway might not be the best fit for students who:
Find an extremely low student-faculty ratio of 8:1, too intimidating or overwhelming.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
50%
Student body
15K
Career Outlook for degree at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,904Starting Salary: $38,400Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a technical school with three campuses and five regional learning centers. It serves a nine-county area in Wisconsin.
What we love about NWTC:
Its maritime public safety training makes it one of the few colleges across the country, and the only one in the state, to offer boat patrol and dive classes.
NWTC is ideal for students who:
Seek highly respected and affordable degrees without incurring massive student debt.
NWTC might not be the best fit for students who:
Are not ready to face the challenges of rigorous education from industry experts.
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
48%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Lakeshore Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,376Starting Salary: $36,100Lakeshore Technical College is a Cleveland-based public two-year technical and community college that offers more than 70 technical diploma, certificate and associate-degree programs, as well as adult continuing education programs.
What we love about LTC:
Around 96% of LTC graduates are employed in the state of Wisconsin.
LTC is ideal for students who:
Are seeking a small campus with a rural environment.
LTC might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer learning in large class sizes where they can blend in with other students.
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
33%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at College of Menominee Nation
Cost of Degree: $6,200Starting Salary: $23,500College of Menominee Nation is a private, non-profit four-year college primarily offering associate degree programs, diplomas in trades and technical areas, and continuing education programs.
What we love about CMN:
Around 93% of CMN graduates finish their programs without incurring debt.
CMN is ideal for students who:
Prefer studying at a land-grant college close to a historic forest.
CMN might not be the best fit for students who:
Are looking for colleges that provide massive options for academic programs, as CMN only offers 19 programs.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
47%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for degree at Waukesha County Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,694Starting Salary: $38,800Waukesha County Technical College is a public two-year community college based in Pewaukee with a satellite campus in Waukesha.
What we love about WCTC:
It strives to become a modern, comprehensive regional college that is agile, proactive, and forward-thinking in order to adapt to the rapidly changing working landscape.
WCTC is ideal for students who:
Seek a college that supports Non-Traditional Occupation (NTO) careers, breaking through the gender barriers in industries.
WCTC might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer small class sizes to make the most of their training with individualized attention from instructors.
- #10 Best Accredited Online Trade Schools for Vocational Skills #14 Fastest Accelerated Online Associate's of Counseling Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
32%
Student body
9K
Career Outlook for degree at Northcentral Technical College
Cost of Degree: $3,861Starting Salary: $37,000Northcentral Technical College is a Wausau-based public community college with regional centers in central Wisconsin.
What we love about NTC:
It has more than 400 transfer agreements with at least 50 University of Wisconsin and private college partners.
NTC is ideal for students who:
Want to be a part of a community college with a track record of 95% of its graduates being employed within a year of finishing their programs.
NTC might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer an academic environment close to nature or in rural areas.
- #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Wisconsin 2025 #16 Best Online Associate in Software Development
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
46%
Student body
12K
Career Outlook for degree at Chippewa Valley Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,724Starting Salary: $38,300Chippewa Valley Technical College is a two-year public institution providing education services to an 11-county area.
What we love about CVTC:
It provides students with hands-on learning, training and skills-building through its more than 110 academic programs, 16 apprenticeships, and 36 certificates.
CVTC is ideal for students who:
Are looking for academic programs with a clear structure for gaining the education, experiences, and credentials recognized by employers.
CVTC might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a technical college in a rural environment.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
55%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,796Expenses: $16,527Starting Salary: $36,000Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salarySouthwest Wisconsin Technical College is in educational institution based in Fennimore offering degree programs, apprenticeships, continuing education, and other educational services throughout its college district, which includes five counties.
What we love about Southwest Tech:
The school’s faculty constitutes highly qualified specialists in their fields of study with strong connections to the institution’s workforce partners.
Southwest Tech is ideal for students who:
Value excellent education and are committed to making positive and impactful contributions to their local communities.
Southwest Tech might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a casual approach to their educational pursuits without the constant pressure to make a difference in society.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
45%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for degree at Moraine Park Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,713Starting Salary: $36,100Moraine Park Technical College is a public educational institution based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with two other campuses in Beaver Dam and West Bend. Its regional centers are in Jackson and Horicon.
What we love about MPTC:
It offers transfer degree programs where graduates can seamlessly transfer with junior status to some universities including the University of Wisconsin.
MPTC is ideal for students who:
Want to enroll in a technical college with a track record of 94% of graduates being employed within six months of finishing their academic programs.
MPTC might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a large campus environment in a rural area.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
41%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Mid-State Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,886Starting Salary: $35,700Mid-State Technical College is a public technical college with four major campuses in central Wisconsin.
What we love about Mid-State:
The school’s Credit for Prior Learning and Experience policy allows students to have their previous life, work, and school experiences potentially count for up to 75% of Mid-State course credit.
Mid-State is ideal for students who:
Are looking for technical degree programs with various scheduling options and delivery methods to choose from.
Mid-State might not be the best fit for students who:
Are passionate about sports, considering that the school has no varsity sports or intercollegiate athletics programs.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
42%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Blackhawk Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,170Starting Salary: $34,100Blackhawk Technical College is a Janesville-based public technical school with three locations serving the Wisconsin counties of Green and Rock.
What we love about Blackhawk Tech:
The school has been serving the educational needs of the community for more than a century.
Blackhawk Tech is ideal for students who:
Are looking for a supportive academic community that fosters inclusivity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Blackhawk Tech might not be the best fit for students who:
Are seeking high quality vocational programs at the lowest possible tuition across Wisconsin.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
49%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Nicolet College
Cost of Degree: $4,724Starting Salary: $31,400Nicolet College is a public two- year community college based in Rhinelander with several outreach centers throughout Wisconsin.
What we love about Nicolet College:
It has a Nicolet Promise program that provides qualified and exceptional students a tuition-free college education.
Nicolet College is ideal for students who:
Are looking for a supportive and tight-knit academic community where students are encouraged to be the best versions of themselves regardless of their background.
Nicolet College might not be the best fit for students who:
Are not comfortable attending small class sizes.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
60%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Northwood Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,524Starting Salary: $36,200Northwood Technical College is a public technical school with campuses and outreach centers across the northwest region of Wisconsin.
What we love about Northwood Tech:
At least 95% of graduates from this technical college are employed within six months of finishing their programs.
Northwood Tech is ideal for students who:
Are seeking quality, practical education at affordable tuition rates to boost their employability in northwest Wisconsin’s industries.
Northwood Tech might not be the best fit for students who:
Prefer a campus environment that is close to a bustling city life.
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
8%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,030Starting Salary: $22,100Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College, now known as Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University since August 2022, is a non-profit Ojibwe tribal university offering a range of academic degrees and certificate programs.
What we love about LCOOU:
It is an open-door institution that mainly serves Native American students but welcomes non-native students as well.
LCOOU is ideal for students who:
Prefer a post-secondary institution that celebrates a diverse student population at all its campuses.
LCOOU might not be the best fit for students who:
Want a campus environment with an urban vibe and large class sizes.
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
- Western Technical College
- Milwaukee Area Technical College
- Lakeshore Technical College
- Waukesha County Technical College
- Northcentral Technical College
- Mid-State Technical College
- Fox Valley Technical College
- Gateway Technical College
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
- Moraine Park Technical College
- Northwood Technical College
- College of Menominee Nation
- Chippewa Valley Technical College
- Blackhawk Technical College
- Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
- Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College
- Nicolet College
