32 WI Colleges Among Best In Country, U.S. News Says

WISCONSIN — Thirty-two Wisconsin colleges were ranked among the top 100 in the country, according to new 2025 Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

The rankings evaluated 1,500 colleges and universities using more than a dozen measures of academic quality, the digital media company said in a news release. This year in its rankings, U.S. News prioritized social mobility — that is, its record in enrolling and graduating students from all backgrounds with manageable debt — and post-graduate success, including earnings.

Here are the rankings for Wisconsin schools:

National Universities:

No. 39 — University of Wisconsin-Madison
No. 86 — Marquette University
No. 315 — Edgewood College
No. 315 — University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
No. 329 — Concordia University (Wisconsin)
No. 359 — University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

National Liberal Arts Colleges:

No. 69 — Lawrence University
No. 60 — St. Norbert College
No. 95 — Beloit College
No. 236 — Ripon College

Regional Universities (Midwest):

No. 2 — Milwaukee School of Engineering
No. 20 — University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
No. 28 — University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
No. 32 — Carroll University
No. 34 — University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
No. 37 — Carthage College
No. 41 — University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
No. 48 — University of Wisconsin-River Falls
No. 60 (tied) — Mount Mary University
No. 60 (tied) — University of Wisconsin--Platteville
No. 64 — University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
No. 67 — Alverno College
No. 73 — Viterbo University
No. 79 — University of Wisconsin-Stout
No. 118 — University of Wisconsin-Parkside
No. 124 (tied) — Marian University (WI)
No. 124 (tied) — University of Wisconsin-Superior
No. 131 — Maranatha Baptist University
No. 138 — Lakeland University
No. 149 — Herzing University

Regional Colleges (Midwest)

No. 16 — Wisconsin Lutheran College
No. 32 — Northland College

Included in the 2025 report are specialized rankings such as the best value schools, most innovative colleges, top performers on social mobility and historically Black colleges and universities, as well as universities with the greatest commitment to undergraduate teaching. Other specialty rankings include programs that enhance student experiences, including first-year experiences, service learning, studying abroad and undergraduate research and creative projects.

The top national universities are:

1. Princeton University in New Jersey
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. Harvard University in Massachusetts
4. Stanford University in California
5. Yale University in Connecticut

The top national liberal arts colleges are:

1. Williams College in Massachusetts
2. Amherst College in Massachusetts
3. Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania
4. United States Naval Academy in Maryland
5. Bowdoin College in Maine and Pomona College in California (tie)