2026 Best Value Value Schools in Wisconsin

[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-science/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
For return on investment in value, no school beat University Of Wisconsin Green Bay this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,700, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay generally make around $42,853. That is a strong return on a $24,477 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned it the #2 place for value. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,619 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $50,590. Set against $24,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin La Crosse one of the best values for value. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,070 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,551 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $49,223. Set against $23,551 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for value. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Value graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,642, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Value graduates carry a median of $22,574 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $49,911. Set against $22,574 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.