Wisconsin is home to two of America's most livable cities, according to U.S. News and World Report: Green Bay at #3 and the state capital Madison at #17. Just some of the factors that make Wisconsin an ideal place to live include affordable housing, top-tier academic institutions, easy access to a range of outdoor activities (including 60 state parks and forests, the Great Lakes and 84,000 miles of rivers), and my personal favorite - the Cheese - of which America's dairy capital produces some of the best in the world. Wisconsin is also home to some of the nation's best higher education programs in computer science and engineering. The best computer science schools in Wisconsin include the University of Wisconsin in Madison and Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.
This page will break down the top-ranked computer science schools in Wisconsin, as well as the best online computer schools for Wisconsinites. We'll also explore career outcomes for comp-sci graduates in The Badger State, including the highest paying cities and computer science careers in Wisconsin.
Best CS Schools in Wisconsin
Compare the best computer science colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin - Madison
With more than 2000 CS majors per semester, 800% growth in the comp-sci graduating class over the last decade, and one of the nation's highest starting salaries ($128,000 for graduates of its Professional Master's Program), UW-Madison is the best computer science school in Wisconsin. UW is also a public university, so Wisconsin residents qualify for deeply reduced tuition fees. Computer science students at the University of Wisconsin can specialize in cutting-edge topics like software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, network architecture, computational biology and more.
- Featured CS degrees:
- Computer Science Undergraduate Certificate
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- M.S./Ph.D. in Computer Science
- Professional Master’s Program
- View all programs at UW-Madison
- Campus Location:
- UW-Madison Dept. of Computer Science | 1210 W. Dayton Street | Madison, WI 53706-1613
Marquette University
Marquette is a smaller, private Catholic university located just outside downtown Milwaukie. U.S. News and World Report ranked Marquette 83rd in its Top 100 Best National Universities for the 2022-2023 school year. Marquette University also earns top marks in undergraduate job placement, placing 6th in the nation according to Zippia and U.S. Department of Education data. CS students at Marquette benefit from well-designed computer science degrees, certificates and accelerated programs across collegiate levels.
- Undergraduate and graduate CS programs:
- CS Bachelor's with majors in Computer Science, Data Science or Bioinformatics
- Master's degree in CIS, Data Science or Bioinformatics
- Accelerated 5-year BS in Computer Science / MS in Computing Program
- Accelerated 5-year STEM / MBA Program (Computer Science)
- Ph.D. in Computer Science
- Data Science Graduate Certificate
- View all programs at Marquette
- Campus Location:
- Dept. of Computer Science | Katharine R. Cudahy Hall | 1313 W. Wisconsin Avenue | Milwaukee WI, 53233
Top-Paying Computer Science Jobs in Wisconsin
For those who remain in the Badger State after graduation, here's what you can earn in Wisconsin's top-paying computer science roles.
| CS Career Path | Average Salary in WI |
|---|---|
| Information Technology Manager | $141,120 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $108,250 |
| Database Architect | $105,890 |
| Network Architect | $104,420 |
| Computer Research Scientist | $103,570 |
| Hardware Engineer | $101,800 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Regional Salaries for CS Pros in Wisconsin
These cities and metropolitan areas in Wisconsin pay the highest salaries to information technology and computer science professionals.
| Location in WI | Avg. Hourly Wage | Avg. Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | $42.04 | $87,450 |
| Madison, WI | $40.93 | $85,130 |
| Green Bay, WI | $39.53 | $82,230 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $39.11 | $81,360 |
| Appleton, WI | $38.92 | $80,950 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions from prospective applicants to computer science schools in Wisconsin.
What is the most affordable computer science college in Wisconsin?
Out of the top-ranked computer science schools in Wisconsin, UW-Madison is the most affordable with an average in-state tuition of $10,796.
Which college in Wisconsin is the best for computer science?
The University of Wisconsin in Madison is the top-ranked computer science school in Wisconsin. Nationally, U.S. News & World Report ranks UW-Madison 16th for undergraduate computer science studies and 17th for CS graduates in the nation.
Online Computer Schools in Wisconsin
These top-rated online computer science schools are currently accepting Wisconsinites.
