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Best Community Colleges in Milwaukee: Transfer, Tuition & Programs for 2026

GradeToGrad Editorial Team

February 21, 2026

Compare 6+ Milwaukee community colleges with tuition, earnings, and transfer data.

Why Community College in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee's community colleges offer an affordable entry point to higher education, with tuition well below four-year university rates. Strong transfer agreements with state universities mean you can start at a CC and finish your bachelor's degree at a fraction of the cost.

Community Colleges in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Area Technical College (Milwaukee)

Tuition: $5,017/year | Enrollment: 11,362 | 6-year earnings: $33,057

Nursing ADN graduates earn $60,210/year.

Gateway Technical College (Kenosha)

Tuition: $4,853/year | Enrollment: 4,657 | 6-year earnings: $35,333

Nursing ADN graduates earn $61,211/year.

The Institute of Beauty and Wellness (Milwaukee)

Tuition: N/A/year | Enrollment: 207 | 6-year earnings: $31,535

Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee (Milwaukee)

Tuition: N/A/year | Enrollment: 98 | 6-year earnings: $21,743

The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha (Kenosha)

Tuition: N/A/year | Enrollment: 95 | 6-year earnings: $25,412

Milwaukee Career College (Milwaukee)

Tuition: N/A/year | Enrollment: 73 | 6-year earnings: $30,088

How to Choose

Priority	Best Fit
Lowest tuition	Gateway Technical College ($4,853/yr)
Best post-grad earnings	Gateway Technical College ($35,333 at 6yrs)

Financial Aid

Federal Pell Grants (up to $7,395/year) often exceed full community college tuition. Check your state's grant and scholarship programs — many states offer free or reduced CC tuition for qualifying residents.

Next Steps

Compare Milwaukee community colleges on GradeToGrad.