Best Accredited Online Colleges in Wisconsin
Explore and compare a list of accredited schools to enroll in your next program.
With more than 280,000 students enrolled in Wisconsin’s public schools and another 70,000+ pursuing degrees from private institutions, the Badger State is home to many individuals looking to advance their education, despite declining enrollment trends since the Great Recession. The state aims to create more flexible education and transfer options for Wisconsin’s non-traditional students. One answer may be online education, which can offer the flexibility and affordability Wisconsin’s learners need.
Use our ranking of Wisconsin online colleges to find the best accredited college for you. This guide covers the importance of accreditation and includes resources for college-bound Wisconsinites.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Colleges Are Accredited in Wisconsin?
Attending an accredited college means you can expect quality academics and faculty. In Wisconsin, the Higher Learning Commission, a private accredited agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), grants accreditation to colleges and universities.
Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation evaluates a school’s curricular offerings, faculty members, resources, and outcomes. Attending an accredited school allows you to receive federal financial aid and qualify for credit transfers between schools.
Subject-Specific Accreditation
In addition to institutional accreditation, CHEA recognizes programmatic accreditors. Attending an accredited program demonstrates to employers and licensing boards that you have undergone suitable academic training for your chosen career.
There are various programmatic accreditors across industries. For instance, aviation programs receive accreditation from the Aviation Accreditation Board International, and counseling programs can be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
Top Accredited Wisconsin Online Colleges
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
- Stevens Point, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,698
- Out-of-state$15,402
- In-State$8,066
- Out-of-state$17,706
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled8,332
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment38%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- La Crosse, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,585
- Out-of-state$16,404
- In-State$8,651
- Out-of-state$18,637
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate73%
- Students Enrolled10,623
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationYes
Wisconsin Lutheran College
- Milwaukee, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,406
- Out-of-state$30,406
- In-State$9,810
- Out-of-state$9,810
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate89%
- Students Enrolled1,148
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment15%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Madison, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,273
- Out-of-state$36,333
- In-State$10,728
- Out-of-state$24,054
- Retention Rate95%
- Acceptance Rate54%
- Students Enrolled44,257
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment18%
- AccreditationYes
Cardinal Stritch University
- Milwaukee, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$31,798
- Out-of-state$31,798
- In-State$10,880
- Out-of-state$10,880
- Retention Rate60%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled1,896
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment28%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin-Superior
- Superior, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,535
- Out-of-state$14,108
- In-State$7,640
- Out-of-state$16,771
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance Rate82%
- Students Enrolled2,614
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment47%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- Platteville, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,418
- Out-of-state$14,268
- In-State$7,640
- Out-of-state$16,771
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled8,271
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment18%
- AccreditationYes
Maranatha Baptist University
- Watertown, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,480
- Out-of-state$15,480
- In-State$6,840
- Out-of-state$6,840
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled985
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
Marian University
- Fond Du Lac, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$27,500
- Out-of-state$27,500
- In-State$10,800
- Out-of-state$10,800
- Retention Rate68%
- Acceptance Rate65%
- Students Enrolled1,656
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment25%
- AccreditationYes
Lakeland University
- Plymouth, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$28,576
- Out-of-state$28,576
- In-State$11,286
- Out-of-state$11,286
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled2,511
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
- Kenosha, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,298
- Out-of-state$14,568
- In-State$8,028
- Out-of-state$17,622
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate66%
- Students Enrolled4,388
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment47%
- AccreditationYes
Milwaukee Area Technical College
- Milwaukee, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,095
- Out-of-state$6,143
- Retention Rate58%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled14,482
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment30%
- AccreditationYes
Moraine Park Technical College
- Fond du Lac, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,102
- Out-of-state$5,547
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled4,061
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationYes
Mount Mary University
- Milwaukee, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,550
- Out-of-state$30,550
- In-State$14,952
- Out-of-state$14,952
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance Rate58%
- Students Enrolled1,246
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Nicolet Area Technical College
- Rhinelander, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,102
- Out-of-state$6,153
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled1,258
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment42%
- AccreditationYes
Northcentral Technical College
- Wausau, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$3,276
- Out-of-state$4,914
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled6,177
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
- Green Bay, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,095
- Out-of-state$6,143
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled11,225
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationYes
Ottawa University-Milwaukee
- Brookfield, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,976
- Out-of-state$11,976
- In-State$11,430
- Out-of-state$11,430
- Retention Rate0%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled236
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
- Fennimore, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,095
- Out-of-state$6,143
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled2,640
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment26%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex
- Milwaukee, WI
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$6,750
- Out-of-state$6,750
- Retention Rate0%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled602
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment0%
- AccreditationYes
How to Know if Your School or Program is Accredited
Most accredited schools and programs feature their accreditation status on their websites. Ensure that the school or program holds accreditation from an agency recognized by the ED or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The ED and CHEA maintain accreditation databases of recognized agencies and accredited schools.
The Impact of Accreditation When Transferring Credits
According to the National Student Clearinghouse, transfer students accounted for 13.2% of undergraduates nationwide as of 2023. You can maximize your time and money by transferring as many college credits as possible. Accredited colleges and universities in Wisconsin may not recognize credits from unaccredited schools.
Each college accepts a different maximum amount of transfer credits. For instance, University of Wisconsin Parkside accepts up to 72 credits, and Concordia University Wisconsin accepts up to 84 credits.
Accreditation Criteria for Licensing
Attending an accredited program is crucial to pursue careers in regulated industries like healthcare, engineering, and education. Particularly for programs that lead to licensure, programmatic accreditation ensures that the curriculum and experiential component meet industry expectations.
For example, nursing programs that get accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Teaching programs may hold National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education accreditation.
Choosing the Right Online College in Wisconsin
Without proper research, deciding on a college can be a risky investment. Before choosing a college major, make sure to take into account your career goals, interests, and the following factors:
1. Check Accreditation Status
Institutional and programmatic accreditation are crucial in maintaining academic standards across higher education. By attending an accredited college, you can protect your educational investment and ensure your eligibility for licensure and employability. With CHEA’s directories, you can easily find accredited programs and institutions.
2. Research Faculty Expertise
Your instructors play a crucial role in shaping your educational experience. You may want a nursing instructor who has clinical experience in your desired specialty area or a science professor with a robust portfolio of published papers. Study your college’s website and research the instructors to see if their backgrounds align with your academic interests.
3. Compare Financial Aid Offers
Financial aid packages differ at each college, particularly because not every school can receive federal funding. Students can receive state, federal, institutional, and private aid. While independent schools in the 2020-2021 school year distributed $242.5 million in institutional aid to Wisconsin resident undergraduates, University of Wisconsin colleges provided $73.6 million, according to the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
4. Review Program Flexibility
Like colleges, online programs come in many variations. Research each program’s course delivery format to see if it’s fully online or hybrid. Find an online college in Wisconsin that matches your learning style. Remember — certain majors like counseling or teaching require in-person clinical hours, even if you study online.
5. Seek Out Support Services
Colleges support online learners by making tutoring, career, and library resources accessible. Support services vary by school. Research each school’s offerings, which may include student clubs and social events.
Online College Resources for Wisconsin Students
College Navigator
The National Center for Education Statistics maintains this directory, which allows students to search for colleges by state, degree type, available programs, and institution type.College Scorecard
This tool allows students to search and compare colleges based on factors such as cost, admission requirements, and graduation rates.Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
This site allows Wisconsin students to explore school standards, resources, and programs in the state. It can benefit current high school students beginning to consider their college education.State of Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board
This organization manages the state’s financial aid system. Users can access information on financial aid opportunities and loan forgiveness programs. The site also links users to external financial resources and application information.