What is the Average Retention Rate in Wisconsin?
The retention rate is the percentage of first-time students who attend and continue their study in next year at colleges. The low retention rate means that more students transfer out to or stop/pause the program at a school. In general, high ranked colleges or special purpose colleges' retention rate is higher than others.
The average retention rate of Wisconsin colleges is 74.97% for full-time students and 63.08% for part-time students. 31,484 out of 39,386 full-time first-year students continued their study in next year at Wisconsin colleges. In public Wisconsin colleges, the retention rate is 74% and private schools' rate is 70% By school levels, the retention rate at four-years colleges is 73% and community colleges' rate is 73% in Wisconsin.
The next schools are the top 5 Wisconsin colleges that have the highest retention rate. University of Wisconsin-Madison has the highest retention rate of 96% among Wisconsin colleges. Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse also have higher rate of 91% and 87% respectively. For the ranking, we exclude community colleges and four-colleges with less than 1,000 first-time students.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Retention Rate: 96% (full-time), 81% (part-time)
- Marquette University Retention Rate: 91% (full-time), 75% (part-time)
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Retention Rate: 87% (full-time), 50% (part-time)
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Retention Rate: 82% (full-time), 50% (part-time)
- University of Wisconsin-Stout Retention Rate: 79% (full-time), 40% (part-time)
The following table summarizes the average retention rate in Wisconsin by school type and level.
| Total | Public | Private (not-for-profit) | Private (for-profit) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 74.97% | 73.59% | 70.08% | 83.26% |
| 4 Years Colleges | 73.21% | 78.57% | 70.08% | - |
| Community Colleges | 72.70% | 68.93% | - | 84.00% |
| Trade Schools | 83.00% | - | - | 83.00% |
The following table summarizes the retention rate and number of students by attending status for Wisconsin collegesNumbers in parentheses in each column indicate the number of students in the corresponding category.
| Retention Rate | First-time Students | Enrolled in Next Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 74.97% | 39,386 | 31,484 |
| Part-time | 63.08% | 6,466 | 3,691 |
The following table shows the Wisconsin Colleges. You can see more schools and narrow down the results in search result page.
| School Name | Location | Tuition & Fees | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VICI Beauty School Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Greenfield, WI | $19,138 | 109 | - | 88% |
| Alverno College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Milwaukee, WI | $34,086 | 1,317 | 85.74% | 49% |
| Madison Area Technical College Public, four-years | Madison, WI | $7,141 ($4,977) | 13,641 | - | 29% |
| Bellin College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Green Bay, WI | $30,658 | 927 | 97.18% | 63% |
| Beloit College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Beloit, WI | $60,886 | 1,004 | 63.04% | 71% |
| Blackhawk Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Janesville, WI | $6,803 ($4,747) | 2,811 | - | 34% |
| Carroll University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Waukesha, WI | $38,890 | 3,138 | 66.84% | 71% |
| Carthage College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Kenosha, WI | $38,750 | 2,844 | 87.06% | 64% |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Mequon, WI | $35,470 | 5,253 | 78.20% | 68% |
| Edgewood College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Madison, WI | $35,860 | 2,459 | 75.73% | 60% |
| Fox Valley Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Appleton, WI | $7,283 ($5,040) | 10,670 | - | 65% |
| Gateway Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Kenosha, WI | $7,199 ($4,956) | 10,100 | - | 51% |
| The Professional Hair Design Academy Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Eau Claire, WI | $11,900 | 60 | - | 76% |
| Lakeland University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Plymouth, WI | $33,396 | 2,813 | 86.28% | 42% |
| Lakeshore Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Cleveland, WI | $7,087 ($4,844) | 3,303 | - | 50% |
| Lawrence University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Appleton, WI | $56,982 | 1,417 | 63.94% | 77% |
| Maranatha Baptist University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Watertown, WI | $21,550 | 960 | 71.90% | 64% |
| Marian University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Fond Du Lac, WI | $35,204 | 1,246 | 74.98% | 44% |
| Marquette University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Milwaukee, WI | $51,170 | 11,746 | 81.34% | 83% |
| Medical College of Wisconsin Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Milwaukee, WI | - | 1,677 | - | - |
| Mid-State Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | $7,171 ($5,002) | 3,144 | - | 52% |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Milwaukee, WI | $7,427 ($5,184) | 13,792 | - | 25% |
| Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Milwaukee, WI | $43,743 | 838 | 60.54% | 67% |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Milwaukee, WI | $50,480 | 2,953 | 58.93% | 67% |
| Moraine Park Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Fond du Lac, WI | $7,084 ($4,819) | 4,171 | - | 58% |
| Mount Mary University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Milwaukee, WI | $35,420 | 1,182 | 62.33% | 43% |
| Nashotah House Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Nashotah, WI | $18,000 | 143 | - | - |
| Nicolet Area Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Rhinelander, WI | $7,066 ($4,793) | 1,384 | - | 44% |
| Northcentral Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Wausau, WI | $7,132 ($4,889) | 6,746 | - | 45% |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Green Bay, WI | $7,203 ($4,960) | 11,826 | - | 51% |
| Northland College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Ashland, WI | $44,403 | 286 | 74.97% | 50% |
| Ripon College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Ripon, WI | $51,900 | 709 | 79.84% | 63% |
| Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Franklin, WI | - | 128 | - | - |
| Saint Norbert College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | De Pere, WI | $45,580 | 2,032 | 85.74% | 71% |
| State College of Beauty Culture Inc Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Wausau, WI | $14,900 | 57 | - | 90% |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Fennimore, WI | $7,147 ($4,904) | 2,849 | - | 66% |
| Viterbo University Private (not-for-profit), four-years | La Crosse, WI | $34,250 | 2,094 | 72.43% | 68% |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Eau Claire, WI | $7,087 ($4,844) | 8,330 | - | 50% |
| Waukesha County Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Pewaukee, WI | $7,046 ($4,803) | 8,367 | - | 44% |
| Western Technical College Public, 2-4 years | La Crosse, WI | $7,078 ($4,820) | 3,625 | - | 34% |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Public, four-years | Whitewater, WI | $18,716 ($8,616) | 11,746 | 85.72% | 59% |
| Northwood Technical College Public, 2-4 years | Rice Lake, WI | $7,169 ($4,926) | 2,940 | - | 56% |
| Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Milwaukee, WI | $35,000 | 78 | - | - |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Public, four-years | Eau Claire, WI | $19,228 ($9,642) | 10,049 | 82.34% | 64% |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Public, four-years | Green Bay, WI | $17,288 ($8,700) | 11,174 | 88.59% | 48% |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Public, four-years | La Crosse, WI | $19,517 ($10,070) | 10,446 | 75.50% | 71% |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Milwaukee, WI | $36,110 | 1,027 | 78.16% | 64% |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Public, four-years | Oshkosh, WI | $16,446 ($8,532) | 12,953 | 86.50% | 46% |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside Public, four-years | Kenosha, WI | $17,429 ($8,270) | 3,925 | 75.39% | 40% |
| Herzing University-Madison Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Madison, WI | $13,450 | 5,274 | 94.30% | 28% |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout Public, four-years | Menomonie, WI | $19,265 ($10,701) | 6,926 | 87.67% | 55% |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior Public, four-years | Superior, WI | $16,726 ($8,812) | 2,833 | 93.01% | 42% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison Public, four-years | Madison, WI | $42,103 ($11,603) | 51,044 | 45.20% | 90% |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Public, four-years | Milwaukee, WI | $22,398 ($10,398) | 22,450 | 90.68% | 49% |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville Public, four-years | Platteville, WI | $17,603 ($8,644) | 6,389 | 89.38% | 56% |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls Public, four-years | River Falls, WI | $17,470 ($9,008) | 5,243 | 81.72% | 57% |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Public, four-years | Stevens Point, WI | $18,248 ($9,228) | 8,233 | 91.80% | 51% |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Public, four-years | Hayward, WI | $6,030 ($6,030) | 204 | - | 23% |
| Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine Private (for-profit), four-years | Racine, WI | $18,666 | 37 | - | - |
| Empire Beauty School-Green Bay Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Ashwaubenon, WI | $18,182 | 100 | - | 73% |
| College of Menominee Nation Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Keshena, WI | $6,200 | 300 | - | 32% |
| Ottawa University-Milwaukee Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Brookfield, WI | $13,296 | 116 | - | - |
| Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Milwaukee, WI | $17,407 | 111 | - | 47% |
| Milwaukee Career College Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Milwaukee, WI | $15,078 | 67 | 72.86% | 44% |
| Rasmussen University-Wisconsin Private (for-profit), four-years | Green Bay, WI | $16,345 | 55 | - | 57% |
| The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Milwaukee, WI | $11,498 | 186 | - | 90% |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Wauwatosa, WI | $20,469 | 1,037 | - | 20% |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Appleton, WI | $18,600 | 81 | - | 82% |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska Private (for-profit), 2-4 years | Onalaska, WI | $24,900 | 67 | - | 93% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Wauwatosa, WI | $18,154 | 140 | - | 8% |
| Herzing University-Kenosha Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Kenosha, WI | $13,450 | 526 | 92.00% | 72% |
| Herzing University-Brookfield Private (not-for-profit), four-years | Brookfield, WI | $13,450 | 385 | 93.06% | 42% |
| Advanced College of Cosmetology Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Waupun, WI | $16,600 | 24 | - | 88% |
| First Class Cosmetology School Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Beloit, WI | $18,490 | 92 | - | 86% |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Kenosha, WI | $23,500 | 130 | - | 70% |
| East-West Healing Arts Institute Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Madison, WI | $13,450 | 72 | - | 87% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Madison Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Madison, WI | $19,465 | 70 | - | 50% |
| Aveda Institute-Madison Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Madison, WI | $11,498 | 88 | - | 97% |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Madison, WI | $12,140 | 53 | - | 93% |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Appleton, WI | $4,950 | 37 | - | 79% |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Green Bay, WI | $4,950 | 64 | - | 56% |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Janesville Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Janesville, WI | $7,490 | 102 | - | 31% |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex Public, four-years | Milwaukee, WI | $6,750 ($6,750) | 551 | 100.00% | - |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside Flex Public, four-years | Kenosha, WI | $6,750 ($6,750) | 173 | - | - |
| East-West Healing Arts Institute - Milwaukee Private (for-profit), less than 2-years | Shorewood, WI | $13,450 | - | - | - |
Related Wisconsin Statistics
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between Wisconsin Best Schools
- Graduation Rate Statistics Comparison Between All Wisconsin Schools
- Core Statistics for College Graduation Rate Stats at Wisconsin
- Average Wisconsin Graduation Rate Statistics
- Colleges with Highest Graduation Rate in Wisconsin
- Colleges with Lowest Graduation Rate in Wisconsin
- Lowest Students to Faculty Ratio in Wisconsin
- Highest Students to Faculty Ratio in Wisconsin