Score Excellent Colleges and Universities in Northeast Wisconsin

Patrick Flood

Obtaining a degree has never been easier, thanks to the long list of colleges and universities in Northeast Wisconsin. These include Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC), College of Menominee Nation, Lakeland University, Lakeshore College, Lawrence University, Marian University, Moraine Park Technical College, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Ripon College, St. Norbert College, University of Wisconsin (UW)-Green Bay and UW Oshkosh.

Together, they provide multiple majors, minors and graduate programs, meaning students are sure to receive the schooling they need to prepare for their futures. 

But there is something even more appealing about furthering one’s education in this region. Many of the institutions carry articulation agreements – official guarantees that classes completed at one school will be accepted for credit at another – with other regional schools. 

Ahead, hear from Doug Cox and John Laughrin, former students who share how they benefited from the collaboration that exists between area higher education institutions. 

Doug Cox, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin 

Cox, former chairman and current director of land management for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, says his college journey took more than 20 years. 

He started working toward an associate degree in natural resources from FVTC in 1988. In 2009, he decided to further his education at UW-Green Bay, seeking a bachelor’s degree in applied studies, a program primarily for nontraditional students. 

Thanks to the articulation agreements in place at UW-Green Bay, Cox was able to transfer many of his credits that he earned from FVTC, not to mention some of his work experience earned him credits, as well. Cox says he’d always planned to carry his education beyond FVTC prior to attending UW-Green Bay, but when he went to apply to a four-year school in the early 2000s, few of his credits were going to carry over. 

“The applied studies program at UW-Green Bay made such a difference for adult students,” he says. “Having that opportunity made it possible for me to return to school and get my degree. It is probably one of the top accomplishments from a work goal that I had in my career. It was challenging and difficult, but I learned a lot. Getting it done through all those challenges is what makes it such a great accomplishment.” 

John Laughrin, WFRV-TV

When Laughrin, news director at WFRV-TV in Green Bay, graduated from high school, he was unsure what he wanted to do next. He started classes at what is now UW Oshkosh’s Fox Cities campus because of the affordable tuition and the ability to live at home and hold a job. His dream of becoming a radio DJ led him to communications classes at UW Oshkosh, Fox Cities.

The small class sizes allowed him to connect with a professor who offered him an internship at a Green Bay television station. Within a week, he was at the Green Bay Packers’ practice field alongside working media. He fell in love with the work, and it completely changed the course of his life, he says. 

Laughrin worked at Green Bay-area television stations for the rest of his collegiate career, earning real-world experience while taking classes. He transferred to UW-Green Bay in 2002 to complete his degree, and he says the process could not have been easier. He only had one class that wouldn’t transfer, and he says that was clearly communicated to him up front. The open communication made him feel very comfortable and content with transferring. 

“I remember it being seamless,” he says of the transfer process. “Knowing that it wasn’t cumbersome or challenging was appealing. When I walked across that stage to get my bachelor’s degree, I didn’t owe anybody anything. It was a game-changer. I had my pick of a couple of full-time jobs as soon as I graduated and no debt. Some of that was luck, but a lot of it was the support and experience I had at the local schools.” 

Danny Damiani

Personalize Your Path 

Neither Cox nor Laughrin took the path they expected after high school, but both know they could not have achieved what they have without the flexibility they experienced in pursuit of their degrees. Cox says he learned a lot from his winding path to a degree, and he tries to pass on the lessons of perseverance to his family and young people in his community. 

Learning and living in the New North region have allowed these individuals to build a solid foundation while spreading their wings to achieve their dreams. Here, you can become part of a thriving ecosystem where education, business and community come together to provide a seamless path toward your career goals.