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2026 Best Trade Schools in Wisconsin
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Wisconsin? This list ranks 87 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College reviewed 77 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Wisconsin
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University Of Wisconsin Stout tops our 2026 ranking of the best Trade degree schools in Wisconsin. Based in Menomonie, WI, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Typical Trade student debt is $25,821. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Stout report
The strong Trade programs at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee Flex earned it the #2 place in Wisconsin. This public school is set in Milwaukee, WI. Students from in state pay about $6,750 in tuition and fees. The median Trade program debt is $23,820. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee Flex
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire one of the top choices in Wisconsin. This public school is set in Eau Claire, WI. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Typical Trade student debt is $22,574. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #4 on this year's Trade ranking in Wisconsin. Set in La Crosse, WI, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Graduates carry a median of $23,551 in student loans. More on University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
You'll be in good company at Madison Area Technical College, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Madison, WI, Madison Area Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Madison Area Technical College Trade students take on a median of $16,812 in debt. Get the full Madison Area Technical College report
Viterbo University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in La Crosse, WI. Viterbo University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $34,250 in tuition and fees. Typical Trade student debt is $29,107. Read more about Viterbo University
Marquette University landed the #7 spot in Wisconsin this year. Marquette University is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $51,170. Graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans. See the full Marquette University profile
Moraine Park Technical College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Fond du Lac, WI, Moraine Park Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,819 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,084. Graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. See the full Moraine Park Technical College profile
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Appleton, WI, Fox Valley Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Fox Valley Technical College Trade students take on a median of $13,319 in debt. See the full Fox Valley Technical College profile
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #10 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. Set in Eau Claire, WI, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete their Trade program here. More on Chippewa Valley Technical College
Herzing University Madison ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Madison, WI, Herzing University Madison is a private not-for-profit institution. Herzing University Madison posts a six-year graduation rate of 22%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,450. Typical Trade student debt is $30,328. See the full Herzing University Madison profile
Carroll University landed the #12 spot in Wisconsin this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Waukesha, WI. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $38,890 in tuition and fees. Typical Trade student debt is $26,904. Get the full Carroll University report
Blackhawk Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Janesville, WI, Blackhawk Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,747, while out-of-state students pay about $6,803. The median Trade program debt is $13,715. Get the full Blackhawk Technical College report
Rasmussen College Wisconsin did well this year, earning the #14 position. Based in Green Bay, WI, Rasmussen College Wisconsin is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,345. Typical Trade student debt is $28,798. Get the full Rasmussen College Wisconsin report
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Fennimore, WI, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,904, compared with $7,147 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $12,112. See the full Southwest Wisconsin Technical College profile
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #16 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. Set in Green Bay, WI, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $24,477. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Green Bay report
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College placed #17 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. Set in Rice Lake, WI, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. The median Trade program debt is $11,384. Get the full Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College report
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #18 spot in Wisconsin this year. Located in Green Bay, WI, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Read more about Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Marian University Wisconsin ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fond Du Lac, WI. Marian University Wisconsin graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,204. The median Trade program debt is $27,242. Read more about Marian University Wisconsin
Northcentral Technical College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Wausau, WI, Northcentral Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Typical Trade student debt is $11,709. See the full Northcentral Technical College profile
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #21 spot in Wisconsin this year. This public school is set in Milwaukee, WI. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Gateway Technical College placed #22 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. Set in Kenosha, WI, Gateway Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $7,199. The median Trade program debt is $14,829. More on Gateway Technical College
Western Technical College La Cross ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in La Crosse, WI, Western Technical College La Cross is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, compared with $7,078 for out-of-state students. Western Technical College La Cross Trade students take on a median of $13,669 in debt. Read more about Western Technical College La Cross
Concordia University Wisconsin did well this year, earning the #24 position. Concordia University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit school based in Mequon, WI. About 69% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,470. Concordia University Wisconsin Trade students take on a median of $27,172 in debt. Read more about Concordia University Wisconsin
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #25 spot in Wisconsin this year. This public school is set in Stevens Point, WI. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Graduates carry a median of $24,161 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Wisconsin
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in Pewaukee, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Students borrow a median of $16,595 to complete their Trade program here. See the full Waukesha County Technical College profile
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh did well this year, earning the #27 position. Set in Oshkosh, WI, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh Trade students take on a median of $24,619 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Mid State Technical College placed #28 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. Mid State Technical College is a public school based in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,002, with out-of-state students paying around $7,171. Mid State Technical College Trade students take on a median of $11,626 in debt. Read the full report on Mid State Technical College
Lakeshore Technical College placed #29 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. Set in Cleveland, WI, Lakeshore Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. The median Trade program debt is $11,582. See the full Lakeshore Technical College profile
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #30 spot in Wisconsin this year. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full Milwaukee Area Technical College report
Nicolet Area Technical College placed #31 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. Located in Rhinelander, WI, Nicolet Area Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,793 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,066. Students borrow a median of $11,400 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on Nicolet Area Technical College
Wisconsin School Of Professional Psychology landed the #32 spot in Wisconsin this year. Get the full Wisconsin School Of Professional Psychology report
Edgewood College
Edgewood College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. More on Edgewood College
Ottawa University Milwaukee placed #34 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. More on Ottawa University Milwaukee
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. See the full Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College profile
Bellin College
Bellin College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Bellin College
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design did well this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design
The Institute Of Beauty And Wellness landed the #38 spot in Wisconsin this year. Read the full report on The Institute Of Beauty And Wellness
Aveda Institute Madison landed the #39 spot in Wisconsin this year. More on Aveda Institute Madison
Northland College landed the #40 spot in Wisconsin this year. Read more about Northland College
Bryant And Stratton College Wauwatosa came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read more about Bryant And Stratton College Wauwatosa
Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Janesville placed #42 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. Read the full report on Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Janesville
Milwaukee School Of Engineering placed #43 among Trade schools in Wisconsin. More on Milwaukee School Of Engineering
House Of Heavilin Beauty College Academy Of Beauty Professionals Appleton ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about House Of Heavilin Beauty College Academy Of Beauty Professionals Appleton
University Of Wisconsin River Falls did well this year, earning the #45 position. More on University Of Wisconsin River Falls
University Of Wisconsin Platteville ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Platteville report
Lakeland College
Lakeland College did well this year, earning the #47 position. Get the full Lakeland College report
Paul Mitchell The School Milwaukee did well this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full Paul Mitchell The School Milwaukee report
Empire Beauty School Milwaukee did well this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Empire Beauty School Milwaukee report
Beloit College
Beloit College landed the #50 spot in Wisconsin this year. Read more about Beloit College
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 77 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 87 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).