Wisconsin doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 25 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 25 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Madison came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Wisconsin For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Wisconsin's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | University of Wisconsin-Madison, Herzing University-Madison, Edgewood University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 40,503 (15 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 278,001 |
| Median rent | $1,413 |
| Graduation rate | 69% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,840 |
Madison is home to University of Wisconsin-Madison, Herzing University-Madison, Edgewood University. There are 15 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,413 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,840 a year. It ranks 20th for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 6,877 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 66,729 |
| Median rent | $935 |
| Graduation rate | 62% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $19,652 |
Oshkosh is home to University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $935 a month, and the average cost to attend is $19,652 a year. It ranks 17th for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Bellin College, Rasmussen University-Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 6,768 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 106,253 |
| Median rent | $932 |
| Graduation rate | 66% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $31,154 |
Green Bay is home to University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Bellin College, Rasmussen University-Wisconsin. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $932 a month, and the average cost to attend is $31,154 a year. It ranks 18th for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 7,306 (28 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 25,785 |
| Median rent | $890 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $20,079 |
Stevens Point is home to University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. There are 28 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $890 a month, and the average cost to attend is $20,079 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,837 (51 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 11,499 |
| Median rent | $863 |
| Graduation rate | 65% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,266 |
Platteville is home to University of Wisconsin-Platteville. There are 51 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $863 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,266 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Lawrence University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,396 (2 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 75,023 |
| Median rent | $1,030 |
| Graduation rate | 77% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $69,849 |
Appleton is home to Lawrence University. There are 2 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,030 a month, and the average cost to attend is $69,849 a year. It ranks 15th for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 9,405 (59 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 15,807 |
| Median rent | $1,041 |
| Graduation rate | 66% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $18,719 |
Whitewater is home to University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. There are 59 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,041 a month, and the average cost to attend is $18,719 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Wisconsin-River Falls |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,205 (25 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 16,719 |
| Median rent | $1,107 |
| Graduation rate | 65% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $19,781 |
River Falls is home to University of Wisconsin-River Falls. There are 25 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,107 a month, and the average cost to attend is $19,781 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 10,526 (20 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 51,356 |
| Median rent | $1,010 |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $32,576 |
La Crosse is home to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University. There are 20 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,010 a month, and the average cost to attend is $32,576 a year. It ranks 24th for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,895 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 70,322 |
| Median rent | $1,045 |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $21,705 |
Eau Claire is home to University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,045 a month, and the average cost to attend is $21,705 a year. It ranks 19th for crime among the 25 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Wisconsin
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 25 towns in Wisconsin that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Wisconsin.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Wisconsin.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Wisconsin
If you're looking for the best college towns in Wisconsin, Madison is where to start.
The best college towns in Wisconsin are Madison, Oshkosh, Green Bay, Stevens Point, Platteville, Appleton, Whitewater, River Falls, La Crosse, and Eau Claire.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Wisconsin for 2026?
Madison is the best college town in Wisconsin for 2026, followed by Oshkosh and Green Bay.
How did you rank the best college towns in Wisconsin?
We looked at every town in Wisconsin with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Wisconsin?
Franklin ranks last of the 25 college towns we ranked in Wisconsin for 2026.
Best College Towns In Wisconsin For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison, WI | 278,001 | 40,503 | $1,413 |
| 2 | Oshkosh, WI | 66,729 | 6,877 | $935 |
| 3 | Green Bay, WI | 106,253 | 6,768 | $932 |
| 4 | Stevens Point, WI | 25,785 | 7,306 | $890 |
| 5 | Platteville, WI | 11,499 | 5,837 | $863 |
| 6 | Appleton, WI | 75,023 | 1,396 | $1,030 |
| 7 | Whitewater, WI | 15,807 | 9,405 | $1,041 |
| 8 | River Falls, WI | 16,719 | 4,205 | $1,107 |
| 9 | La Crosse, WI | 51,356 | 10,526 | $1,010 |
| 10 | Eau Claire, WI | 70,322 | 8,895 | $1,045 |
| 11 | Waukesha, WI | 71,233 | 2,523 | $1,219 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | 566,973 | 30,114 | $1,059 |
| 13 | Ripon, WI | 7,772 | 688 | $775 |
| 14 | Beloit, WI | 36,534 | 926 | $1,066 |
| 15 | Plymouth, WI | 8,890 | 1,212 | $914 |
| 16 | Superior, WI | 26,677 | 1,807 | $900 |
| 17 | Kenosha, WI | 99,372 | 6,026 | $1,186 |
| 18 | Mequon, WI | 25,270 | 2,197 | $2,157 |
| 19 | Menomonie, WI | 16,539 | 5,842 | $970 |
| 20 | De Pere, WI | 25,301 | 1,662 | $1,053 |
| 21 | Brookfield, WI | 41,273 | 421 | $1,886 |
| 22 | Wauwatosa, WI | 48,529 | 1,037 | $1,438 |
| 23 | Racine, WI | 77,633 | 1 | $1,033 |
| 24 | Watertown, WI | 22,774 | 541 | $1,052 |
| 25 | Franklin, WI | 35,886 | 0 | $1,458 |
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