Best Online Colleges in Wisconsin for 2024
Get detailed info on Best Online Colleges in Wisconsin and their online degrees, financial aid and scholarships, acceptance rate, tuition and fees.
Wisconsin saw a new era for its online education when UW flexible option was launched. It gave an option of online education for its students within and outside the state, gave a credits system, and hence the flexibility in completing the course, especially for the working class.
Around 7.5% of the students in Wisconsin are enrolled in at least one online course. With the help of UW flexible online, the state also has a Distance Learning Wisconsin organization which helps the students find the best online colleges in Wisconsin and outside the state, and the information about the programs they want to get enrolled in.
Opportunities for college education in Wisconsin
The state of Wisconsin has around 84 institutes which grant the degrees. Out of 91 schools, 31 are public institutes, 24 are private-for-profit and 29 private-not-for-profit. The state granted 13,929 Associate's Degrees, 37,493 Bachelor's Degrees, 9,289 Master's Degrees and 2,686 Doctoral Degrees for the year 2015-2016. The total number of student enrollment was 341,859 in 2016.
According to The National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, the state has awarded up to $2.9million for non-need based grants and $125.5 million for the need-based grants. The state provides various financial aids for the students. The institutions also provide scholarships to the eligible students.
Wisconsin has a competitive nature in terms of online education as well as quite stable tuition rates for helping the students get the best out of the programs they enroll in. There has been an increased in the funding and emphasis on online education in the state, making it accessible for all.
The following is a list of top online colleges in Wisconsin in 2019.
1 Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW)
Mequon, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Financial Aid Percentage: 98%
Average Financial Aid: $15,193
Acceptance Rate: 63.00
Total Programs Offered (77)
28
Business Management Programs
15
Education Programs
9
Health Science Programs
25
Other Programs
Concordia University Wisconsin is a private institution which is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The institution offers degrees in different majors such as Health Professions and Related Programs, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Fire fighting, and related programs and more.
The average cumulative grade point needed for admission is a GPA of 3.34 out of 4.0.
Almost 80% of the undergraduate candidates receive some kind of financial aid by the university and the average grant award or scholarship provided is $13,500.Also, the SAT score needed is between 898-1156 and the ACT composite should range in between 20-26.
The ‘CUW Campus Activities Board’ conducts events which include Homecoming, An evening at the Lounge, Casino Nights, Winterfest and many new traditional events. The university was ranked 70th in the edition of ‘Best Colleges is Regional Universities Midwest’ of the U.S. News and World Report.
2 Northcentral Technical College (NTC)
Wausau, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Public
Financial Aid Percentage: 61%
Average Financial Aid: $4,352
Acceptance Rate: Request Info
Total Programs Offered (110)
37
Business Management Programs
19
Health Science Programs
11
Computer Science Programs
43
Other Programs
Northcentral Technical College (NTC) is a public community college which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission as an open pathways participant. Its popular majors include Nursing Assistant, Welding, and Operation Management.
It provides conference, seminars, and workshops to develop your skill. The college also offers a variety of credit based and continuing education courses. It provides financial aid depending upon the student eligibility and needs.
NTC offers more than 190 programs including two-year associate degree that combine technical skill with general education. It also has one and two years technical- diplomas that provide concentrated hands-on learning and short-term certificate to improve on the job skills. There are more than 20 student clubs on campus.
3 Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Financial Aid Percentage: 100%
Average Financial Aid: $21,062
Acceptance Rate: 82.00
Total Programs Offered (9)
6
Business Management Programs
1
Nursing Program
1
Education Program
1
Other Program
Cardinal Stritch University is a private, not-for-profit Roman Catholic university. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The popular major includes Business, Nursing, and Elementary Education and much more.
It offers undergraduate, graduate and other online programs. The Stritch Library is one of its biggest assets with more than 139,000 holdings. All the seven institutions in the SWITCH library consortium have access to these holdings.
In this university, 66% of the full-time undergraduates receive some kind of financial aid. Its graduating student satisfaction rate is 45%. To get admission, a student must have an SAT score of 910 or above and an ACT score of 18 or above. Minimum GPA scored should be 3.8 out of 4. It also serves many other services such as the campus service and campus safety.
4 Marian University Wisconsin
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Financial Aid Percentage: 99%
Average Financial Aid: $15,571
Acceptance Rate: 77.00
Total Programs Offered (18)
4
Human Services Programs
3
Business Management Programs
3
Education Programs
8
Other Programs
Marian University is a private institution whose accreditation is given by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Nearly every one of the Undergraduates and all Graduate student study in the professional field programs provided by the university that includes Business, Nursing, Education, Criminal Justice, Social work and more.
An average high school GPA of 3.1 is needed for a freshman to get into Marian. The SAT scores should range in between 980-1070 and for ACT it should be 17-22.
Around 80% of Marian’s full-time undergraduates receive some kind of financial aid through the institute. The average amount of grant award is about $6,802. Almost every student is given opportunities for internships, clinical, or other practicum experience. Sturdy importance is focused on the personal concern for students. It has been ranked 118th in ‘Best Colleges in Regional Universities Midwest’ by the U.S. News and World Report.
5 Lakeland University
Plymouth, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Financial Aid Percentage: 85%
Average Financial Aid: $15,755
Acceptance Rate: 55.00
Total Programs Offered (53)
22
Business Management Programs
11
Accounting Programs
10
Information Systems Programs
10
Other Programs
Lakeland University is a private Christian university located in Herman, Wisconsin. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Lakeland offers both undergraduate and a graduate degree in popular majors such as Business, Accounting and Information Science. It has evening, weekend and online programs. It also has traditional undergraduate programs.
To get admission, the candidates must require SAT score 1160 or above and ACT score 16 or above.
Scholarships are awarded on a combination of student ACT and SAT test and cumulative, non-weighted high school GPAs. This university provides many needed service, free of charge. It has 40 clubs and organizations. It ranked 128th in ‘Regional Universities Midwest’ category of U.S. News and World Report.
6 Herzing University
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Financial Aid Percentage: 94%
Average Financial Aid: $6,050
Acceptance Rate: 100.00
Total Programs Offered (35)
9
Business Management Programs
5
Nursing Programs
4
Criminal Justice Programs
17
Other Programs
Herzing University is a private institution whose accreditation is given by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers various certificates in areas like Master’s, Bachelor’s, Associate, and Diploma courses. The university also provides a lot of services like campus safety, scholarships, loan, clean and functional buildings and more.
The Veteran Appreciation grant is given to veterans, dependents of veterans, active duty members, and many more. It even helps the eligible candidates by granting them scholarships and aid.
Herzing University focuses on teaching students the core values of life and also work ethics that will help them in optimizing their economic and human potential. It has featured in the 2019 edition of ‘Best Colleges is Regional Universities Midwest, Tier 2’ for U.S. News.
7 Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Financial Aid Percentage: 100%
Average Financial Aid: $18,257
Acceptance Rate: 90.00
Total Programs Offered (1)
1
Business Management Program
Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) is a private institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools offers popular majors such as Business, Communication, Biology, Nursing, Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Elementary Education, Nursing and much more.
The SAT score needed for admission here is between 1010-1280 and the ACT score should be in the range of 20-26. A minimum GPA of 3.4 out of 4.0 is required to get admission in this college.
WLC is designated as a military friendly college and also takes part in the Yellow Ribbon Programs. It is known for supporting and recruiting veterans and veteran dependents. There are many facilities made available for the military students on the college campus as well. 82% of the WLC students receive financial aid and the average financial package amount up to $18,668.
8 Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Financial Aid Percentage: 100%
Average Financial Aid: $22,258
Acceptance Rate: 56.00
Total Programs Offered (1)
1
Science Program
Mount Mary University is a private, not-for-profit Catholic liberal arts university which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The popular majors are Fashion and Apparel Design, Fashion and Apparel Merchandise and Rehabilitation and Therapy. Majority of the students are of the female gender in these programs with 96 percent gender ratio.
It offers Certificate, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate degrees in other programs to students from a wide variety of backgrounds. It also provides online programs to students who are unable to attend classes on-campus or chose not to.
It requires an SAT score of 638 or above and an ACT score of 17 or above. It offers financial aid to the student who is eligible for financial aid.
9 Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Financial Aid Percentage: 100%
Average Financial Aid: $17,935
Acceptance Rate: 84.00
Total Programs Offered (6)
2
Theology Programs
1
Business Management Program
1
Arts Program
2
Other Programs
Marquette University is a private Catholic institution which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and offers multiple majors such as Biomedical Sciences and Molecular Medicine, Marketing, Finance, Nursing, Accounting, Information Technology and more.
The cumulative grade points required for the university is a GPA of 3.58. The SAT range should be around 1130-1310 and the ACT range should be around 24-29.
As the state's largest private university, MU offers multiple opportunities to the students to show their talents and express their creative unique ideas and also embody a Catholic, Jesuit tradition that emphasizes ethics and values which will help students to optimize it in their future.
It also ranks among the best colleges for veterans. This is a campus that helps the state and federal veterans for their education and to pursue their graduation. Assistance is also available to the veteran dependents, Active service members, etc.
10 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Fennimore, Wisconsin
Institution Type: Public
Financial Aid Percentage: 71%
Average Financial Aid: $4,729
Acceptance Rate: Request Info
Total Programs Offered (13)
5
Business Management Programs
5
Health Science Programs
2
Education Programs
1
Other Program
Southwest Technical College is a public college in Fennimore, Wisconsin whose accreditation has been provided by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Its popular majors include Nursing, Nursing Assistant, and Emergency Medical Technician. It also offers 100% online programs in associates, technical diplomas and certifications. The online students are given options to take up the courses in 4, 8, and 16-week format.
Its graduation rate is 63% and has an impressive retention rate of 75% for full-time students. The GPA required for this college should be 3.0 out of 4. The college has been ranked the topmost technical college in Wisconsin by Forbes ranking.
