2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Wisconsin
[Liberal Arts](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value liberal arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Wisconsin
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools
Leading the list is Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, our #1 best value for liberal arts in Wisconsin. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Set against $11,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nicolet Area Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Nicolet Area Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Rhinelander. In-state tuition and fees average $4,793, while out-of-state students pay about $7,066. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Nicolet Area Technical College generally make around $46,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at Gateway Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $14,829 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $42,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $14,298. Liberal Arts graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $29,812 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in liberal arts will find it at University Of Wisconsin Parkside, which ranked #5. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Kenosha. Students from in state pay about $8,270 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,429. Students borrow a median of $24,485 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $40,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Parkside admits about 75% of applicants.
Mid State Technical College earned the #6 position for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,626 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $41,678 early in their careers. Set against $11,626 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #7 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $41,696. Set against $11,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technical College La Cross placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts. Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of La Crosse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,078. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $13,669 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $43,479. Set against $13,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Madison Area Technical College placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,977, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Liberal Arts graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $29,018 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #11 for value in liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the liberal arts program here. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $54,436. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, compared with $18,248 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $12,000. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $25,231. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Students borrow a median of $11,875 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $37,558. Set against $11,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #14 for value in liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $21,532 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $38,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Liberal Arts graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $36,904 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #16 among the best values for liberal arts. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the liberal arts program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Alverno College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,086. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $43,066. Early-career liberal arts graduates make about $44,812. Set against $43,066 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alverno College admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire placed #18 among the best values for liberal arts. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Typical student debt for liberal arts graduates is $16,708. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $43,714. Set against $16,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
