UW-Madison’s ranking dips, but remains highest-ranked university in state by U.S. News & World Report

The University of Wisconsin-Madison continues to be the highest ranked university in Wisconsin, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings.

This year, UW-Madison placed #39 on the national universities list – down four spots from last year. In 2022, UW-Madison ranked #38 in the same category. The university also placed #18 in the “Best Undergraduate Business Programs” category and maintained the top spot for best real estate program.

Milwaukee School of Engineering also kept the #2 spot of regional universities in the Midwest.

Below is a full list of where Wisconsin’s colleges and universities placed in the U.S. News and World Report rankings for 2025.

National Universities

• 39. University of Wisconsin-Madison (Last year’s ranking: 35)
• 86. Marquette University (Last year’s ranking: 86)
• 315. UW-Milwaukee (Last year’s ranking: 332)
• 329. Concordia University Wisconsin (Last year’s ranking: 304)
• 332. UW-Oshkosh (Last year’s ranking 332)

National Liberal Arts Colleges

• 69. Lawrence University (Last year’s ranking: 75)
• 90. St. Norbert College (Last year’s ranking: 93)
• 95. Beloit College (Last year’s ranking: 86)
• 136. Ripon College (Last year’s ranking: 146)

Regional Universities – Midwest

• 2. Milwaukee School of Engineering (Last year’s ranking: 2)
• 20. UW-Eau Claire (Last year’s ranking: 21)
• 28. UW-La Crosse
• 32. Carroll University (Last year’s ranking: 38)
• 34. UW-Whitewater (Last year’s ranking: 43)
• 41. UW-Stevens Point (Last year’s ranking: 47)
• 48. UW-River Falls (Last year’s ranking: 60)
• 60. Mount Mary University (Last year’s ranking: 47)
• 60. UW-Platteville (Last year’s ranking: 60)
• 64. UW-Green Bay (Last year’s ranking: 66)
• 67. Alverno College (Last year’s ranking: 56)
• 73. Viterbo University (Last year’s ranking: 74)
• 79. UW-Stout (Last year’s ranking: 67)
• 118. UW-Parkside (Last year’s ranking: 103)
• 124. UW-Superior (Last year’s ranking: 124)
• 131. Maranatha Baptist University (Last year’s ranking: 133)
• 138. Lakeland University (Last year’s ranking: 140)
• 149-164. Herzing University (Last year’s ranking: 149-164)

Regional Colleges – Midwest

• 16. Wisconsin Lutheran College (Last year’s ranking: 19)
• 32. Northland College (Last year’s ranking: 33)

Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Overall

• 18. UW-Madison (Last year’s ranking: 17)
• 94. Marquette University (Last year’s ranking: 118)
• 127. UW-Milwaukee (Last year’s ranking: 135)
• 248. UW-Whitewater (Last year’s ranking: 310)
• 281. UW-Eau Claire (Last year’s ranking: 310)
• 316. UW-La Crosse (Last year’s ranking: 353)
• 316. UW-Oshkosh (Last year’s ranking: 403)
• 392. UW-Stevens Point (Last year’s ranking: 403)
• 440-532. UW-Parkside (Last year’s ranking: 453-523)
• 440-532. UW-River Falls (Last year’s ranking: 453-523)

Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Accounting

• 16. UW-Madison (Last year’s ranking: 17)
• 36. Marquette University (Last year’s ranking: 46)

Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Finance

• 19. Marquette University (Last year’s ranking: 21)
• 32. UW-Madison (Last year’s ranking: 26)

Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Insurance

• 2. UW-Madison (Last year’s ranking: 2)

Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Management

• 20. UW-Madison (Last year’s ranking: 22)

Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Marketing

• 8. UW-Madison (Last year’s ranking: 9)

Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Production and Operations Management

• 16. UW-Madison

Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Real Estate

• 1. UW-Madison (Last year’s ranking: 1)

Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Supply Chain Management and Logistics

• 20. Marquette University (Last year’s ranking: 17)
• 24. UW-Madison