Best Online Colleges in Wisconsin

Benefits of Studying Online in Wisconsin

Wisconsin stands out in terms of population, geography, and economic opportunity. The Badger State, which has the 20th largest population in the US at nearly 5.9 million people, is home to cities such as Milwaukee, in addition to the state capitol of Madison. In terms of geography, Wisconsin offers students more than 65,500 square miles to explore, making it the 23rd largest state in America. It also features several National Parks and recreational areas, as well as the Niagara Escarpment. As a result, between the culture and outdoor recreation in Wisconsin, there’s plenty for students to see and explore.

Employment Stats

Wisconsin also offers an attractive labor market for those considering a move. With more than 2,947,100 non-farm employees employed as of October 2022, Wisconsin was ranked as the 19th largest employer in the US, accounting for just over 1.9% of the nation’s workforce. This was an increase of more than 58,000 new employees across the state in comparison to the previous year (an increase of 2.04%) - making it the 46th fastest growing state. Wisconsin also fared very well compared to the median state, having over 970,000 more people employed than the median (a substantial 49% more).

Wisconsin also did just edge out Missouri, which ranked 20th in the nation with 2,933,000 workers (giving Wisconsin an edge of just 15,000 or 0.50%). On the other end of the spectrum, Wisconsin just narrowly lost to it’s neighbor Minnesota, which clinched the 18th spot by margin of just 7,000 (Wisconsin had -0.3% less). That being said, Wisconsin fell short of the nation's leader (-83%), alhtough it's not surprising given that it accounts for just 1.8% of the nation’s population.

Job Opportunities

The state of Wisconsin is no stranger to volatility, but if you’re a recent college grad, you’ll be happy to know that the state offers slightly above median job opportunities, in terms of both unique job types and total employed persons. Wisconsin has roughly 740 unique jobs, which puts it at the 23rd spot nationally, or 2.5% above the median of 722. Louisiana holds tight to the median, employing 722 unique job types as well.

Wisconsin is home to a number of highly ranked universities. One of the most known is the University of Wisconsin-Madison which has a total enrollment of around 43,000 students, making it one of the larger state universities. There’s also Marquette University, which specializes in a number of different fields and is well known for its law school. The state is also home to several Fortune 500 companies like Kohls and Johnson Controls, so there are ample opportunities to apply for after graduation.

Given the population and economic health of Wisconsin, the state offers a great opportunity for current and prospective students to pursue a degree or career. There is no shortage of recreational areas and activities for students to explore, in addition to a strong labor market, giving them the opportunity to gain workplace experience.

*All data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)