Wisconsin · Getting in
Most selective colleges in Wisconsin
The short answer
The most selective four-year colleges in Wisconsin are UW–Madison (41% admitted), Milwaukee School of Engineering (59% admitted) and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (61% admitted), by acceptance rate.
Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.
The list (16 of 33)
Four-year colleges in Wisconsin with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 16 of the 33 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 15 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 1 college.
- University of Wisconsin–Madison 41% admitted Madison, WI · Average price after grants: $16,600 a year in-state, about $48,625 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Milwaukee School of Engineering 59% admitted Milwaukee, WI · Average price after grants: $27,027 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 61% admitted Milwaukee, WI · Average price after grants: $28,129 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Mount Mary University 62% admitted Milwaukee, WI · Average price after grants: $17,607 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Beloit College 63% admitted Beloit, WI · Average price after grants: $23,216 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Lawrence University 64% admitted Appleton, WI · Average price after grants: $22,758 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Carroll University 67% admitted Waukesha, WI · Average price after grants: $24,205 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Maranatha Baptist University 72% admitted Watertown, WI · Average price after grants: $27,172 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Viterbo University 72% admitted La Crosse, WI · Average price after grants: $22,797 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Marian University 75% admitted Fond Du Lac, WI · Average price after grants: $22,225 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of Wisconsin-Parkside 75% admitted Kenosha, WI · Average price after grants: $11,233 a year in-state, about $20,850 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 76% admitted La Crosse, WI · Average price after grants: $17,064 a year in-state, about $26,983 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Edgewood University 76% admitted Madison, WI · Average price after grants: $28,487 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Concordia University-Wisconsin 78% admitted Mequon, WI · Average price after grants: $29,239 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Wisconsin Lutheran College 78% admitted Milwaukee, WI · Average price after grants: $24,761 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Ripon College 80% admitted Ripon, WI · Average price after grants: $20,233 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the most selective colleges in Wisconsin?
The most selective four-year colleges in Wisconsin are UW–Madison (41% admitted), Milwaukee School of Engineering (59% admitted) and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (61% admitted), by acceptance rate.
How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?
1 of the 16 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their applicants.
How recent are these acceptance rates?
Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.
Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.