Best Research Universities in Wisconsin 2025
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.
Key Takeaways
- Wisconsin’s top research universities collaborate with industries and government agencies, offering students internship opportunities, access to real-world projects, and funding for innovative research.
- These universities provide cutting-edge labs, research centers, and technology, allowing students to engage in advanced research across fields like engineering, healthcare, and environmental science.
- These institutions encourage students to work across disciplines, fostering collaborative research that addresses complex, global challenges and promotes innovation.
Best Research Universities in Wisconsin in 2025
2025 Ranking Update
Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.
In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best research universities in Wisconsin remained largely stable. Marquette University was able to rise to the second ranking position as the university launched Innovation Alley, a collaborative space combining engineering, business, and healthcare programs to foster entrepreneurship and cross-disciplinary projects. The university has also enhanced its sustainability initiatives, adding new green buildings and renewable energy solutions across campus.
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
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
- #6 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #7 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #7 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #7 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
89%
Student body
51K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/29
Career Outlook for degree at University of Wisconsin–Madison
Cost of Degree: $11,205Expenses: $17,700Starting Salary: $68,000Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Wisconsin–Madison known for?
University of Wisconsin–Madison’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Sociology
- History
- Earth Sciences
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Psychology
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #14 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Wisconsin 2025 #1 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 2025 #2 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2025
Tuition + fees
$47K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
83%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1265/28
Career Outlook for degree at Marquette University
Cost of Degree: $48,700Expenses: $19,730Starting Salary: $70,700Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Marquette University known for?
Marquette University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- Nursing
- Communications
- Philosophy
- Law
- Medical
- History
- Business
- Literature
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Wisconsin 2025 #2 Best Public Colleges in Wisconsin 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2025 #3 Best Colleges in Wisconsin 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
48%
Student body
28K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Cost of Degree: $10,020Expenses: $15,380Starting Salary: $48,200Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee known for?
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Physics
- Engineering
- Anthropology
- Criminal Justice
- Sociology
- Literature
- Computer Science
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 Best Christian Colleges in Wisconsin 2025 #4 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2025 #5 Best Small Colleges in Wisconsin 2025 #6 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 2025
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
66%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for degree at Concordia University Wisconsin
Cost of Degree: $34,250Expenses: $20,000Starting Salary: $47,300Cost Recoup Time: 17 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Concordia University Wisconsin known for?
Concordia University Wisconsin’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- History
- Nursing
- Medical
- Communications
- Criminal Justice
- Computer Science
- Political Science
- Education
- Economics
Most Influential Alumni
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
- #5 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2025 #6 Best Christian Colleges in Wisconsin 2025 #9 Best Small Colleges in Wisconsin 2025 #10 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 2025
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
62%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Edgewood College
Cost of Degree: $34,850Expenses: $16,302Starting Salary: $47,600Cost Recoup Time: 17 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Edgewood College known for?
Edgewood College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- #6 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2025 #8 Best Christian Colleges in Wisconsin 2025 #9 Best Online Master's Programs in Wisconsin 2024 #10 Best Online Colleges in Wisconsin 2024
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
52%
Student body
2K
What is Cardinal Stritch University known for?
Cardinal Stritch University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
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
Find the Best Research Universities in Wisconsin for Your Area of Interest
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.
Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.