Paying for college · Wisconsin
What college really costs in Wisconsin
Average yearly net price after grants at 71 four-year colleges, lowest first. The figure for families earning under $30,000 shows how far need-based aid goes at each school.
Wisconsin state grants
- Wisconsin Grant: Set each year by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB), which fixes the minimum and maximum award; prorated by credit load
- Academic Excellence Scholarship: Up to $2,250 a year toward tuition, for up to eight semesters
- Federal Pell Grant: up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Working while you study
$7.25/hour minimum wage
Wisconsin's minimum wage is the same as the federal $7.25.
All four-year colleges in Wisconsin
| College | Avg net price | Income under $30k | Graduate | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolet Area Technical CollegeRhinelander · public | $6,163 | $5,539 | — | $7,500 |
| VICI Beauty SchoolGreenfield · private | $7,917 | $5,331 | — | $6,333 |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe UniversityHayward · public | $8,000 | — | 100% | — |
| College of Menominee NationKeshena · private | $8,435 | — | 7% | — |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay · public | $9,232 | $7,023 | — | $10,814 |
| Moraine Park Technical CollegeFond du Lac · public | $9,785 | $6,819 | — | $7,000 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee · public | $10,493 | $9,003 | — | $13,163 |
| Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville · public | $10,514 | $8,064 | — | $9,000 |
| Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee · public | $11,014 | $11,011 | — | $9,500 |
| University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha · public | $11,233 | $7,970 | 41% | $19,500 |
| Western Technical CollegeLa Crosse · public | $11,615 | $8,802 | — | $12,000 |
| Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha · public | $11,704 | $10,046 | — | $13,475 |
| Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison · public | $11,919 | $10,189 | — | $14,590 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire · public | $12,151 | $10,057 | — | $11,613 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen Bay · public | $12,211 | $8,152 | 47% | $19,000 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-AppletonAppleton · private | $12,374 | $9,743 | — | $12,000 |
| First Class Cosmetology SchoolBeloit · private | $12,471 | $12,499 | — | $10,194 |
| Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau · public | $12,582 | — | — | $8,000 |
| State College of Beauty CultureWausau · private | $12,618 | $9,722 | — | — |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeFennimore · public | $12,778 | $10,574 | — | $8,000 |
| Advanced College of CosmetologyWaupun · private | $12,938 | $12,307 | — | — |
| The Institute of Beauty and Wellness MadisonMadison · private | $13,244 | $11,849 | — | $6,333 |
| University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater · public | $13,737 | $8,655 | 56% | $20,688 |
| University of Wisconsin-SuperiorSuperior · public | $13,843 | $9,166 | 43% | $20,928 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-OnalaskaOnalaska · private | $14,284 | $12,324 | — | $12,000 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaWauwatosa · private | $14,592 | — | 18% | $19,816 |
| University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver Falls · public | $14,703 | $9,442 | 58% | $19,500 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointStevens Point · public | $14,757 | $9,360 | 53% | $20,664 |
| The Institute of Beauty and WellnessMilwaukee · private | $15,210 | $13,834 | — | $6,333 |
| University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlatteville · public | $15,451 | $10,189 | 58% | $20,500 |
| Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton · public | $15,585 | $12,832 | — | $8,750 |
| University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee · public | $15,625 | $12,204 | 50% | $21,875 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-MilwaukeeWauwatosa · private | $16,056 | — | — | $10,613 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire · public | $16,133 | $10,174 | 62% | $19,500 |
| Lakeshore Technical CollegeCleveland · public | $16,446 | $15,868 | — | $7,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh · public | $16,492 | $10,817 | 47% | $20,888 |
| University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison · public | $16,600 | $3,424 | 90% | $18,375 |
| Empire Beauty School-Green BayAshwaubenon · private | $16,783 | $15,676 | — | $9,833 |
| University of Wisconsin-La CrosseLa Crosse · public | $17,064 | $9,261 | 71% | $20,500 |
| Empire Beauty School-MilwaukeeMilwaukee · private | $17,280 | — | — | $9,833 |
| Mid-State Technical CollegeWisconsin Rapids · public | $17,372 | $16,188 | — | $7,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-StoutMenomonie · public | $17,533 | $11,344 | 52% | $22,887 |
| Mount Mary UniversityMilwaukee · private | $17,607 | $16,110 | 54% | $24,990 |
| Northwood Technical CollegeRice Lake · public | $18,550 | $16,698 | — | $8,789 |
| The Professional Hair Design AcademyEau Claire · private | $18,706 | $18,582 | — | $11,717 |
| Ripon CollegeRipon · private | $20,233 | $14,155 | 59% | $27,000 |
| Herzing University-KenoshaKenosha · private | $20,276 | $19,961 | 67% | $17,676 |
| Herzing University-MadisonMadison · private | $20,293 | $20,880 | 29% | $17,676 |
| Herzing University-BrookfieldBrookfield · private | $20,570 | $18,257 | 28% | $17,676 |
| Alverno CollegeMilwaukee · private | $20,863 | $20,971 | 47% | $26,100 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-JanesvilleJanesville · private | $20,952 | — | — | $7,672 |
| Marian UniversityFond Du Lac · private | $22,225 | $18,132 | 46% | $22,722 |
| Lawrence UniversityAppleton · private | $22,758 | $12,417 | 79% | $27,000 |
| Viterbo UniversityLa Crosse · private | $22,797 | $14,996 | 63% | $24,350 |
| Beloit CollegeBeloit · private | $23,216 | $19,875 | 75% | $26,000 |
| Lakeland UniversityPlymouth · private | $23,722 | $20,792 | 38% | $25,000 |
| Carroll UniversityWaukesha · private | $24,205 | $19,942 | 69% | $27,000 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeMilwaukee · private | $24,761 | $18,013 | 66% | $23,393 |
| Milwaukee Career CollegeMilwaukee · private | $25,235 | — | — | $8,241 |
| Carthage CollegeKenosha · private | $26,444 | $22,941 | 66% | $23,250 |
| Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee · private | $27,027 | $14,061 | 63% | $27,000 |
| Maranatha Baptist UniversityWatertown · private | $27,172 | $25,679 | 66% | $14,646 |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & DesignMilwaukee · private | $28,129 | $22,885 | 59% | $27,000 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-KenoshaKenosha · private | $28,472 | $27,944 | — | $10,194 |
| Edgewood UniversityMadison · private | $28,487 | $21,983 | 61% | $24,250 |
| Saint Norbert CollegeDe Pere · private | $28,822 | $24,244 | 72% | $24,525 |
| Concordia University-WisconsinMequon · private | $29,239 | $29,401 | 67% | $24,656 |
| Marquette UniversityMilwaukee · private | $30,561 | $20,708 | 79% | $21,500 |
| Academy of Beauty ProfessionalsMadison · private | $31,073 | — | — | $6,333 |
| Bellin CollegeGreen Bay · private | $34,765 | — | 67% | $17,988 |
| East-West Healing Arts InstituteMadison · private | $63,694 | — | — | — |
Linked colleges have a full funding guide. More are added every week.
Short of what aid covers?
Students in Wisconsin use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors, and receive every dollar.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; state program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. Four-year, campus-based public and private nonprofit colleges with complete net-price data.