Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find, well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Research Universities in Wisconsin 2023

By James Barham

Published: May 6, 2021
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

Interested in attending a STEM school in Wisconsin? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

Best Research Universities in Wisconsin 2022

University of Wisconsin–Madison

75%

Marquette University

51%

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

48%

Concordia University Wisconsin

27%

Cardinal Stritch University

24%

Edgewood College

24%

Edgewood College

95%

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

89%

Cardinal Stritch University

89%

Marquette University

86%

Concordia University Wisconsin

69%

University of Wisconsin–Madison

60%

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

18 to 1

University of Wisconsin–Madison

16 to 1

Marquette University

13 to 1

Edgewood College

12 to 1

Concordia University Wisconsin

11 to 1

Cardinal Stritch University

9 to 1

Marquette University

$45,766

Cardinal Stritch University

$34,762

Edgewood College

$32,600

Concordia University Wisconsin

$31,952

University of Wisconsin–Madison

$9,273

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

$8,091

Marquette University

$21,960

Edgewood College

$18,936

Concordia University Wisconsin

$11,628

Cardinal Stritch University

$11,440

University of Wisconsin–Madison

$10,728

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

$10,701

Edgewood College

24%

Cardinal Stritch University

24%

Concordia University Wisconsin

27%

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

48%

Marquette University

51%

University of Wisconsin–Madison

75%

University of Wisconsin–Madison

60%

Concordia University Wisconsin

69%

Marquette University

86%

Cardinal Stritch University

89%

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

89%

Edgewood College

95%

Cardinal Stritch University

9 to 1

Concordia University Wisconsin

11 to 1

Edgewood College

12 to 1

Marquette University

13 to 1

University of Wisconsin–Madison

16 to 1

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

18 to 1

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

$8,091

University of Wisconsin–Madison

$9,273

Concordia University Wisconsin

$31,952

Edgewood College

$32,600

Cardinal Stritch University

$34,762

Marquette University

$45,766

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

$10,701

University of Wisconsin–Madison

$10,728

Cardinal Stritch University

$11,440

Concordia University Wisconsin

$11,628

Edgewood College

$18,936

Marquette University

$21,960

Colleges and Universities in Wisconsin

Between community colleges, technical schools, and universities, Wisconsin has 30 public schools. All the public schools in Wisconsin have affordable tuitions, ranging from $4,000 to $11,000. The University of Wisconsin - Madison has over 35,000 students in attendance, making it the largest in the state. The tuition runs about $11,000, and the school boasts an 85% graduation rate. Public affairs, veterinary medicine, and human ecology are just some of the fields students can study here.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Of Wisconsin’s 29 private schools, 18 are religious. With just under 10,000 students, Marquette University is the largest, and tuition for this school is about $42,000. Located in Milwaukee, this Catholic, Jesuit university offers degrees in fields like business, engineering, physical therapy, and law. Also located in Milwaukee, the state’s smallest institution, the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology, is a private graduate school with just over 30 students, and is geared toward those earning their doctoral degree in clinical psychology. Wisconsin, like many states, also provides a loan forgiveness program to those who are working in the health care field.

When people think Wisconsin, they might immediately crave cheese. After all, the state is home to a museum dedicated to all things cheese, including the annual making of a 90-pound wheel of Swiss. But The Beaver State is also known for its more than 15,000 lakes, including Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Prospective students looking to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree will enjoy the food, landscape, and educational variety Wisconsin has to offer.

Learn more about Wisconsin’s higher education opportunities by checking out the state’s variety of colleges and universities.

What are Wisconsin’s Colleges & Universities?

Wisconsin’s Best Overall

How do we determine Wisconsin's best research universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 6 research universities in Wisconsin. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Best Research Universities in Wisconsin 2022

#1
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Madison , WI
#7 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2023 #7 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2023 #9 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023 #12 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
60%
Graduation
89%
Student body
38K
Median SAT/ACT
1360/29
What is University of Wisconsin–Madison known for?

University of Wisconsin–Madison’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Physics
Psychology
History
Sociology
Mathematics
Engineering
Anthropology
Earth Sciences
Economics
Chemistry

Most Influential Alumni

John Searle
Frank Lloyd Wright
Edward Witten
Carl Rogers
John Bardeen
Abraham Maslow
Charles Lindbergh
Jack Kilby
Jim Lovell
Joshua Lederberg
Warren Weaver
C. Wright Mills
Compare school
#2
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Milwaukee , WI
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Wisconsin 2023 #2 Best Colleges in Wisconsin 2023 #2 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2023 #2 Best Public Colleges in Wisconsin 2023
Other Rankings
- #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
47%
Student body
21K
What is University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee known for?

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Criminal Justice
Physics
Engineering
Computer Science
Anthropology
Sociology
Literature
Nursing
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Jack Kilby
Virginia Satir
John E. Douglas
Eugenie Scott
George L. Kelling
Steve de Shazer
Katia Sycara
Golda Meir
Leslie Ying
Denis Kitchen
M. Hakan Yavuz
Ruth Asawa
Compare school
#3
Marquette University
Milwaukee , WI
#14 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2023 #1 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 2023 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Wisconsin 2023 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023
Other Rankings
- #3 Best Colleges in Wisconsin 2023
- #3 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2023
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
81%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1250/27
What is Marquette University known for?

Marquette University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Religious Studies
Law
Medical
Philosophy
History
Communications
Social Work
Business
Literature

Most Influential Alumni

Dan Harmon
Joseph McCarthy
Dwyane Wade
Peter Boghossian
Walter A. Davis
Scott Hahn
Gail Collins
Robert Daniel Murphy
Kathleen Hall Jamieson
James Foley
John Neumeier
Charles Thomas Horngren
Compare school
#4
Concordia University Wisconsin
Mequon , WI
#3 Best Christian Colleges in Wisconsin 2023 #4 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2023 #5 Best Small Colleges in Wisconsin 2023 #6 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 2023
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
59%
Student body
4K
What is Concordia University Wisconsin known for?

Concordia University Wisconsin’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Religious Studies
Nursing
Medical
Education
History
Economics
Political Science
Business
Criminal Justice
Biology

Most Influential Alumni

Martin E. Marty
David Clarke
Richard Lischer
David Benke
Ralph W. Klein
Norman Wengert
Bernard Bull
Walter Wangerin Jr.
André Carson
Louis J. Sieck
John Scardina
Theodore Dammann
Concordia University Wisconsin’s Online Degrees
BS in Applied Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Communication and Leadership

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Human Resource Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Nursing

Degree Concentrations
Family Nurse Practitioner
Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Educator
Healthcare Informatics

Required Credits: 121
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Business Analytics and Change Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Business Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Social Work

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Management of Criminal Justice

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Radiologic Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee , WI
#5 Best Christian Colleges in Wisconsin 2023 #5 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2023 #7 Best Small Colleges in Wisconsin 2023 #8 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 2023
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
54%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1037/20
What is Cardinal Stritch University known for?

Cardinal Stritch University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Education
Biology
Business
Communications
History
Religious Studies
Psychology
Literature
Mathematics

Most Influential Alumni

Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck
John E. McCoy
Kimberla Lawson Roby
Tony Zielinski
Joe Bee Xiong
Anthony Shumaker
Rosemary Hinkfuss
Shelia Stubbs
Chad Weininger
Cardinal Stritch University’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration

Degree Concentrations
Introduction to Business
Advanced Business Principles
Human Resources and Marketing
Economics and Accounting
International Business
Introduction Sport and Recreation Business
Advanced Sport and Recreation Business

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA/BS in Education Studies

Degree Concentrations
Introduction to Education
Classroom Management and Culture
Reading and Language Arts Integration
Secondary Curriculum and Methods
and Secondary Education Application

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Nursing

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Public Health

Degree Concentrations
Human Biology
Social Inequality
Social Change and Social Institutions

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Public Health

Degree Concentrations
Quantitative Chemistry
Human Biology
Social Change and Social Institutions

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#6
Edgewood College
Madison , WI
#6 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2023 #8 Best Christian Colleges in Wisconsin 2023
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
62%
Student body
2K
What is Edgewood College known for?

Edgewood College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Sociology
Religious Studies
Literature
Psychology
Business
Mathematics
Biology
History
Economics

Most Influential Alumni

Jeff Erlanger
Meg Johnson
Alexis Herman
Becca Hamilton
Dianne Hesselbein
Compare school

Build your own college rankings

Find the Best Research Universities in Wisconsin for Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).
Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.
Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.
The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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.

Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

Best Research Universities in Wisconsin 2023

Best Research Universities in Wisconsin 2022

Colleges and Universities in Wisconsin

What are Wisconsin’s Colleges & Universities?

Wisconsin’s Best Overall

Best Research Universities in Wisconsin 2022

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Most Influential Alumni

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

Most Influential Alumni

Marquette University

Most Influential Alumni

Concordia University Wisconsin

Most Influential Alumni

Concordia University Wisconsin’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Cardinal Stritch University

Most Influential Alumni

Cardinal Stritch University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Edgewood College

Most Influential Alumni

Find the Best Research Universities in Wisconsin for Your Area of Interest