2027 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin

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College Raptor’s Hidden Gem rankings highlight under-the-radar colleges that may not be household names, but they're bringing serious academic heat. Hidden Gems are based on College Raptor’s overall national rankings and must meet the following criteria:

Receive fewer than 10,000 applications per year.
Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students.
Offer 5 or more unique majors
Have a 20% acceptance rate or higher.
Rank within the top half of College Raptor’s overall rankings.

For more information on methodology behind our college rankings, check out our ranking methodology breakdown.

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Rank	Institution	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Lawrence University	66.63	1,190 – 1,410	27161	40653	#1 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Lawrence University Appleton, WI Lawrence University, founded in 1847 as one of the nation’s first coeducational institutions, offers a rigorous liberal arts and sciences education alongside its world-renowned Conservatory of Music....Read more Acceptance Rate 66.6% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,410 Avg. Net Price $27,161 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,653
2	Saint Norbert College	85.74	1,080 – 1,310	27880	49775	#2 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Saint Norbert College De Pere, WI Roman Catholic and Norbertine, St. Norbert College’s motto is “Docere Verbo et Exemplo,” which translates to “To teach by word and example.” It awards 100% of students with institutional grants and has an 83% first year retention rate. 66% graduate in four years, 72% in six. Acceptance Rate 85.7% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $27,880 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,775
3	Beloit College	70.39	1,200 – 1,400	24455	41660	#3 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Beloit College Beloit, WI Beloit College’s campus is located next to the Rock River, just north of the Illinois and Wisconsin border. With an 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and a six-year graduation rate of 74%, Beloit’s most popular major is Psychology, General. Their colors are orange, black, and white, and their mascot is a polar bear. Acceptance Rate 70.4% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $24,455 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,660
4	Milwaukee School of Engineering	67.11	1,190 – 1,380	25669	75114	#4 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WI Found in Milwaukee, Milwaukee School of Engineering’s acceptance rate is 67% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Milwaukee School of Engineering will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 85%....Read more Acceptance Rate 67.1% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $25,669 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $75,114
5	Carroll University	66.84	1,070 – 1,280	27031	54456	#5 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Carroll University Waukesha, WI Located in Waukesha, Carroll University’s acceptance rate is 67%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 94% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 66.8% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $27,031 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,456
6	Concordia University-Wisconsin	78.19	1,110 – 1,310	31916	49761	#6 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, WI Based in Mequon, Concordia University-Wisconsin accepts 78% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 98% of students at Concordia University-Wisconsin currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 78% of students decide to stay at Concordia......Read more Acceptance Rate 78.2% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $31,916 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,761
7	Wisconsin Lutheran College	78.16	1,130 – 1,340	24095	49095	#7 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI Found in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Lutheran College’s acceptance rate is 78% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 98% of students attending Wisconsin Lutheran College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 78.2% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $24,095 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,095
8	Ripon College	81.86	1,140 – 1,310	23772	42334	#8 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Ripon College Ripon, WI Found in Ripon, Ripon College accepted 82% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of students attending Ripon College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s first year......Read more Acceptance Rate 81.9% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $23,772 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,334
9	Viterbo University	97.56	1,080 – 1,240	21933	56804	#9 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Viterbo University La Crosse, WI Based in La Crosse, Viterbo University accepted 98% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students at Viterbo University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s first year......Read more Acceptance Rate 97.6% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $21,933 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,804
10	Maranatha Baptist University	89.08	1,080 – 1,280	28415	40403	#10 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, WI Opened in 1968 as Maranatha Baptist Bible College, the school became a university in 2013. Students can earn up to Doctor's degrees and choose from 33 programs. Maranatha Baptist has an acceptance rate of 89%, and 48% of those accepted enroll at the school. Acceptance Rate 89.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $28,415 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,403
11	University of Wisconsin-Platteville	89.38	1,080 – 1,310	16266	54825	#11 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, WI Platteville is one of the 13 main campuses that make up the public University of Wisconsin system. It received its current moniker in 1971 but the institution dates back to the 1866 Platteville Normal School. The Pioneers compete in the NCAA Division III with football Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference....Read more Acceptance Rate 89.4% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $16,266 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,825
12	Edgewood University	74.98	1,040 – 1,210	27038	53843	#12 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Wisconsin Edgewood University Madison, WI Located in Madison, Edgewood University accepted 75% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 98% of students at Edgewood University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more Acceptance Rate 75.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $27,038 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,843