Colleges in Madison, Wisconsin
8 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 8 colleges and universities in Madison, Wisconsin (4 Private for-profit, 2 Public, 2 Private nonprofit). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 8 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $20,938 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 73.5%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 76% of applicants.
The median net price in Madison runs about $4,688 higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $16,250.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Madison, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$20,938
After aid
Median grad rate
73.5%
6-year
Median admission rate
76%
Median enrollment
598
Undergrad
All colleges in Madison
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | WI | Public, 4-year | $17,354 | 89.5% | 45% | 36,902 | Complete | |
| Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI | WI | Public, 4-year | $14,238 | 28.9% | Not available | 10,073 | Partial | |
| Herzing University-Madison Madison, WI | WI | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $22,327 | 28.4% | 94% | 2,494 | Complete | |
| Edgewood College Madison, WI | WI | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $26,113 | 60.2% | 76% | 1,107 | Complete | |
| Aveda Institute-Madison Madison, WI | WI | Private for-profit, <2-year | $12,568 | 97.2% | Not available | 88 | Partial | |
| East-West Healing Arts Institute Madison, WI | WI | Private for-profit, <2-year | $55,568 | 86.7% | Not available | 72 | Partial | |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Madison Madison, WI | WI | Private for-profit, <2-year | $24,453 | 50.0% | Not available | 70 | Partial | |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals Madison, WI | WI | Private for-profit, <2-year | $19,549 | 92.9% | Not available | 53 | Partial |
By institution type
Private for-profit (4)
Private for-profit colleges in Madison operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Aveda Institute-MadisonNet price: $12,568Grad: 97.2%
- East-West Healing Arts InstituteNet price: $55,568Grad: 86.7%
- Paul Mitchell the School-MadisonNet price: $24,453Grad: 50.0%
- Academy of Beauty ProfessionalsNet price: $19,549Grad: 92.9%
Public (2)
Public colleges in Madison are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- University of Wisconsin-MadisonNet price: $17,354Grad: 89.5%
- Madison Area Technical CollegeNet price: $14,238Grad: 28.9%
Private nonprofit (2)
Private nonprofit colleges in Madison are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Herzing University-MadisonNet price: $22,327Grad: 28.4%
- Edgewood CollegeNet price: $26,113Grad: 60.2%
Top programs in Madison
Most-completed programs across Madison colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Health professions16.9% of degrees
- Business15.0% of degrees
- Biological sciences6.8% of degrees
- Social sciences6.2% of degrees
- Engineering6.0% of degrees
- Computer science6.0% of degrees
- Interdisciplinary4.8% of degrees
- Communication4.1% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Madison
Q.How many colleges are in Madison, Wisconsin?
There are 8 colleges and universities in Madison, Wisconsin that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 4 Private for-profit, 2 Public, 2 Private nonprofit.
Q.What is the largest college in Madison?
By undergraduate enrollment, University of Wisconsin-Madison is the largest institution in Madison with roughly 36,902 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Madison?
Based on average net price after aid, Aveda Institute-Madison is the most affordable institution in Madison at $12,568 per year.
Q.Which Madison college has the highest graduation rate?
Aveda Institute-Madison reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Madison institutions at 97.2%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Madison?
The median net price across all 8 colleges in Madison is $20,938 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Madison?
Across Madison colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Health professions, Business, Biological sciences.
Q.Are there community colleges in Madison?
Yes — Madison includes 2 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Wisconsin
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Madison that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.