The 10 Best Colleges In Wisconsin, And Their Acceptance Rates, According To New 2027 Rankings

MADISON, WI — The University of Wisconsin-Madison is the best college in Wisconsin, according to Niche's newly released 2027 college rankings.

The Pittsburgh-based college search and review site evaluated more than 4,000 colleges and universities nationwide, using federal data along with student and alumni reviews.

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The University of Wisconsin ranked No. 44 nationally on Niche's 2027 Best Colleges in America list and No. 1 in Wisconsin.

Here are the top ten, plus their acceptance rate:

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, WI — Grade: A plus — Acceptance rate: 45% — Net price: $14,235

2. Marquette University — Milwaukee, WI — Grade: B plus — Acceptance rate: 81% — Net price: $34,322

3. Lawrence University — Appleton, WI — Grade: B plus — Acceptance rate: 64% — Net price: $27,161

4. St. Norbert College — De Pere, WI — Grade: B — Acceptance rate: 86% — Net price: $27,880

5. Wisconsin Lutheran College — Milwaukee, WI — Grade: B — Acceptance rate: 78% — Net price: $24,095

6. University of Wisconsin-Parkside — Kenosha, WI — Grade: B — Acceptance rate: 75% — Net price: $10,234

7. Milwaukee School of Engineering — Milwaukee, WI — Grade: B — Acceptance rate: 59% — Net price: $25,669

8. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse — La Crosse, WI — Grade: B — Acceptance rate: 76% — Net price: $14,712

9. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee — Milwaukee, WI — Grade: B — Acceptance rate: 91% — Net price: $16,263

10. University of Wisconsin-Superior — Superior, WI — Grade: B — Acceptance rate: 93% — Net price: $13,215

Niche publishes rankings for categories including value, academics, professors, student life, campuses, majors, public universities and liberal arts colleges, as well as rankings by state.

The Top 10 Nationally

Nationally, Massachusetts Institute of Technology took the No. 1 spot on the 2027 Best Colleges list. The full top 10 includes:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2. Stanford University, Stanford, California
3. Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
4. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
5. Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
6. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
7. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
8. Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
9. Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
10. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

What Goes Into The Rankings

Niche's rankings combine federal data with reviews from students and alumni, weighing factors including academics, value, professors, campus life, diversity and safety.

For 2027, Niche also added a measure that compares colleges with similar institutions based on their missions and outcomes. The site also introduced pilot grades for student wellness and "future readiness," including career services, internships and exposure to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.