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Most affordable public universities in Wisconsin

15 public universities in Wisconsin report net price data, ranging from $8,778 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $13,670. Wisconsin's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Wisconsin

$13,670

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in Wisconsin

15

The most affordable public universities in Wisconsin, ranked by net price

1

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

WI

Net price

$8,778

Receive grant aid

65%

2

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

WI

Net price

$10,289

Receive grant aid

53%

3

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University

WI

Net price

$11,536

Receive grant aid

100%

4

Madison Area Technical College

WI

Net price

$12,175

Receive grant aid

39%

5

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

WI

Net price

$12,942

Receive grant aid

51%

6

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

WI

Net price

$13,125

Receive grant aid

36%

7

University of Wisconsin-Superior

WI

Net price

$13,126

Receive grant aid

71%

8

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

WI

Net price

$13,670

Receive grant aid

61%

9

University of Wisconsin-Madison

WI

Net price

$14,216

Receive grant aid

49%

10

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

WI

Net price

$14,347

Receive grant aid

86%

11

University of Wisconsin-River Falls

WI

Net price

$15,242

Receive grant aid

82%

12

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

WI

Net price

$15,323

Receive grant aid

60%

13

University of Wisconsin-Stout

WI

Net price

$15,574

Receive grant aid

54%

14

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

WI

Net price

$15,966

Receive grant aid

93%

15

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

WI

Net price

$16,499

Receive grant aid

83%

What makes a school affordable here

In Wisconsin, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At University of Wisconsin-Parkside, the most affordable on this list, 65% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Wisconsin, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →