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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Wisconsin

7 Colleges in the United States
990 Liberal Arts Degrees Awarded
$41,883 Avg Early-Career Salary

Liberal Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Wisconsin

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts education in Wisconsin.

Top Schools in Liberal Arts

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Wisconsin Madison this year for liberal arts. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 17 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh one of the top schools for liberal arts. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 21 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $38,451. Typical student debt for the program is $21,532. Get the full liberal arts details for University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh

3

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 122 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn around $54,436 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. Get the full liberal arts details for University Of Wisconsin Green Bay

4

University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 10 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Platteville in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $37,558 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates carry a median of $11,875 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Wisconsin Platteville

5

A rank of #5 makes Nicolet Area Technical College one of the top schools for liberal arts. This small public university is located in the rural area of Rhinelander. There were roughly 51 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Nicolet Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Nicolet Area Technical College earn around $46,419 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for Nicolet Area Technical College

6

Madison Area Technical College placed #6 among the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 450 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $29,018. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Madison Area Technical College

7

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #7 position for liberal arts this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $36,904 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $22,251 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts details for University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

8

Western Technical College La Cross ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of La Crosse. There were roughly 23 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Western Technical College La Cross earn around $43,479 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,669 to complete this degree. Read more about the liberal arts program at Western Technical College La Cross

9

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #9 for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rice Lake. There were roughly 10 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $35,981 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,384. Get the full liberal arts details for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

10

Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 48 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Chippewa Valley Technical College earn around $45,531 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete this degree. Read more about the liberal arts program at Chippewa Valley Technical College

11
Mid State Technical College crest
Mid State Technical College
Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Mid State Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. Mid State Technical College awarded about 20 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Mid State Technical College earn around $41,678 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,626. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Mid State Technical College

12

Gateway Technical College earned the #12 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 18 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Gateway Technical College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $42,410 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,829 to complete this degree. Read more about the liberal arts program at Gateway Technical College

13

Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Milwaukee Area Technical College awarded about 144 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Milwaukee Area Technical College earn around $29,812 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,298. Get the full liberal arts details for Milwaukee Area Technical College

14
Alverno College crest
Alverno College
Milwaukee, WI

Alverno College placed #14 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 18 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Alverno College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $44,812 in their early career. Alverno College graduates carry a median of $43,066 in student loans. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Alverno College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 29 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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