Best Community Colleges in Wisconsin by Salary Potential

Looking to expand your career opportunities but lack time? Check out Wisconsin’s top two-year colleges by earning potential and earn a degree that pays.

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RankSchool NameSchool SectorEarly Career Pay
Mid-Career Pay
% High Meaning
% STEM Degrees
Rank:1School Name:Cardinal Stritch UniversitySchool Sector:Private not-for-profitEarly Career Pay:$58,800Mid-Career Pay:$82,000% High Meaning:74%% STEM Degrees:3%
Rank:2School Name:University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$53,800Mid-Career Pay:$78,000% High Meaning:-% STEM Degrees:8%
Rank:3School Name:Waukesha County Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$52,600Mid-Career Pay:$76,300% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:4School Name:Concordia University-WisconsinSchool Sector:Private not-for-profitEarly Career Pay:$50,200Mid-Career Pay:$75,200% High Meaning:-% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:5School Name:Madison Area Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$52,400Mid-Career Pay:$73,000% High Meaning:54%% STEM Degrees:7%
Rank:6School Name:Herzing University-MadisonSchool Sector:Private not-for-profitEarly Career Pay:$46,600Mid-Career Pay:$72,100% High Meaning:57%% STEM Degrees:4%
Rank:7School Name:Blackhawk Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$50,800Mid-Career Pay:$71,500% High Meaning:64%% STEM Degrees:0%
Rank:8School Name:Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$52,100Mid-Career Pay:$71,000% High Meaning:57%% STEM Degrees:6%
Rank:8School Name:Southwest Wisconsin Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$51,400Mid-Career Pay:$71,000% High Meaning:59%% STEM Degrees:2%
Rank:10School Name:Mid-State Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$51,300Mid-Career Pay:$70,800% High Meaning:56%% STEM Degrees:3%
Rank:10School Name:Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$51,100Mid-Career Pay:$70,800% High Meaning:57%% STEM Degrees:4%
Rank:12School Name:University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$47,200Mid-Career Pay:$70,500% High Meaning:-% STEM Degrees:10%
Rank:13School Name:Gateway Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$49,500Mid-Career Pay:$70,400% High Meaning:58%% STEM Degrees:4%
Rank:13School Name:Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$49,400Mid-Career Pay:$70,400% High Meaning:49%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:15School Name:Lakeshore Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$50,700Mid-Career Pay:$70,200% High Meaning:56%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:16School Name:Northcentral Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$50,800Mid-Career Pay:$69,000% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:7%
Rank:17School Name:Western Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$49,700Mid-Career Pay:$68,900% High Meaning:59%% STEM Degrees:3%
Rank:18School Name:Moraine Park Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$51,100Mid-Career Pay:$68,800% High Meaning:57%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:19School Name:University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$45,400Mid-Career Pay:$68,400% High Meaning:47%% STEM Degrees:16%
Rank:20School Name:Fox Valley Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$51,300Mid-Career Pay:$67,900% High Meaning:53%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:21School Name:Northwood Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$50,100Mid-Career Pay:$67,600% High Meaning:63%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:22School Name:Nicolet Area Technical CollegeSchool Sector:PublicEarly Career Pay:$44,800Mid-Career Pay:$64,100% High Meaning:55%% STEM Degrees:5%

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College Student

This year, Payscale has salary data for graduates with associate degrees from a number of public two-year colleges in the Badger State, making it easy to find a community college that fits your program needs and also has high earning potential.

Milwaukee Area Technical College, home of the Stormers, is the largest school. Blackhawk Technical College is the smallest, with only about 2,700 students. Though small, Lakeshore Technical College awards the highest percentage of STEM degrees (about 20 percent). Only about 11 percent of associate degrees from Northcentral Technical College and Moraine Park Technical College are STEM subjects.

Agricultural, manufacturing, and energy are some of the major industries in the state. Graduates with associate degrees go on to work for employers like University of Wisconsin – Madison, Epic Systems Corp, and Kraft Foods.