There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Wisconsin ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
After analyzing 23 schools in Wisconsin, we came up with our list of those that offered the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. While associate degree recipients from schools in Wisconsin earn an average starting salary of $42,780, those from the top 22 school on this list made an average of $46,683.
Starting Salary ( 37331 to 57487 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in Wisconsin take out an average of $10,102.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top associate degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our 2025 rankings named Herzing University - Madison the best school in Wisconsin in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Herzing University - Madison is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 197 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,785 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,470 in student loans.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in Wisconsin list means Gateway Technical College is a great place for students working on their degree. Gateway Technical College is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 654 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Gateway Technical College make an average of $46,107 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $4,683.
Out of the 23 associate degree schools in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 1,366 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Madison College is $47,822 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rasmussen University - Wisconsin. The school came in at #4 in Wisconsin on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. This small private for-profit school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 171 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Rasmussen University - Wisconsin make an average of $52,986 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,532 after getting their degree.
Out of the 23 associate degree schools in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Technical College landed the #5 spot on the list. This small public school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 624 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Western Technical College make an average of $48,197 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,755.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #6. UW - Green Bay is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 199 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #7 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. CVTC is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 796 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,154 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,000 after getting their degree.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #8 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Appleton, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1,009 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from FVTC make an average of $44,130 per year during the early years of their career.
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large public school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 220 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from UW - Whitewater make an average of $33,314 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,635.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. NWTC is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 948 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from NWTC make an average of $46,349 a year.
Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large public school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1,217 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from MATC make an average of $45,550 a year.
Blackhawk Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. BTC is located in Janesville, Wisconsin and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 221 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from BTC make an average of $56,629 a year.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. North Central Technical College is located in Wausau, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 478 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from North Central Technical College is $46,997 during the early years of their career.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #14. WITC is a small public school situated in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. It awarded 340 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from WITC make an average of $45,991 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $7,135.
Moraine Park Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. Moraine Park Technical College is a public institution located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 450 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Moraine Park Technical College make an average of $54,819 a year.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #16 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. WCTC is a public institution located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 641 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from WCTC go into careers with an average salary of $50,091 during the early years of their career.
Lakeshore Technical College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #17. LTC is a public institution located in Cleveland, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 270 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from LTC make an average of $52,860 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #18, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. Located in Fennimore, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 220 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Southwest Tech make an average of $53,274 a year.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. UW Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 268 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $26,463 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #20, Mid-State Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. Mid-State is located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 239 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Mid-State make an average of $58,058 a year.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 195 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $30,144 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,000 in student loans.
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school awarded 74 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from UW - Stevens Point is $25,231 during the early years of their career.
Nicolet Area Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. Nicolet Area Technical College is a small public school situated in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. It awarded 122 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $65,071 during the early years of their career.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
