It's not easy to decide which grad school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in Wisconsin ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
We analyzed 28 grad schools across Wisconsin to determine which have the best master's degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best grad 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
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. A master's degree holder from a school in Wisconsin makes an average starting salary of $58,134, but the students who attended schools in the top 23 of our list make an average of $60,233.
Starting Salary ( 50423 to 68505 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their master's degree.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
Our Best Master's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
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 master's 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.
University of Wisconsin - Madison tops this year’s ranking as the best grad school for master’s degrees in Wisconsin for overall quality. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,565 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from UW - Madison make an average of $64,365 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Marquette University. The school came in at #2 in Wisconsin on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 764 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Marquette go into careers with an average salary of $66,639 during the early years of their career.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Mount Mary University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Wisconsin. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 177 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Mount Mary make an average of $50,581 a year.
A rank of #4 on our Best Master’s Degree in Wisconsin list means University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a great place for students working on their degree. This fairly large public school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 392 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from UW - La Crosse make an average of $56,816 a year.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Herzing University - Madison. The school came in at #5 in Wisconsin on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Herzing University - Madison is a private not-for-profit institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 262 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Herzing University - Madison go into careers with an average salary of $72,766 during the early years of their career.
University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #6 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. Platteville, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 252 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from UW - Platteville make an average of $71,531 a year.
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #7 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. This fairly large public school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 492 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from UW - Whitewater go into careers with an average salary of $50,253 during the early years of their career.
Milwaukee School of Engineering did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #8. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 104 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from MSOE go into careers with an average salary of $67,181 during the early years of their career.
Viterbo University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #9. Viterbo is a small private not-for-profit school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 247 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,270 during the early years of their career.
Carroll University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. Located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 190 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $65,030 during the early years of their career.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. UW - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 186 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from UW - Eau Claire make an average of $69,747 per year during the early years of their career.
Alverno College did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 238 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $63,993 during the early years of their career.
Wisconsin Lutheran College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. WLC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 49 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. This medium-sized public school is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and it awarded 316 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,254 during the early years of their career.
Concordia University, Wisconsin landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mequon, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 601 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Concordia University, Wisconsin is $63,249 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #16, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,301 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $51,924 during the early years of their career.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #17. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school handed out 169 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from UW - River Falls make an average of $53,992 per year during the early years of their career.
Cardinal Stritch University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 220 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Cardinal Stritch is $51,392 during the early years of their career.
Carthage College did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #19. Carthage is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 68 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #20 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. UW Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 300 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,156 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. Located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the small public school awarded 153 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from UW - Parkside make an average of $71,109 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #22, Marian University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin list. Marian University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin that handed out 88 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Marian make an average of $77,946 a year.
Lakeland University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #23. Lakeland is a private not-for-profit institution located in Plymouth, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 202 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Lakeland go into careers with an average salary of $50,055 during the early years of their career.
Edgewood College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. Edgewood is a private not-for-profit institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 128 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Edgewood go into careers with an average salary of $59,464 during the early years of their career.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school handed out 158 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,644 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%.
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