Illinois and Wisconsin Schools Make List of Worst Colleges in U.S.

Some of the BEST colleges and universities in the country are located in Illinois, with Northwestern, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois-Champaign all ranking in the Top 40 on U.S. News' list of Best National Universities.

READ MORE: Worst Fast Food Joint in U.S. Has 18 Illinois Locations

In Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin-Madison made the Top 40 list of Best National Universities, but there is another ranking that was unfortunate for several colleges in the Dairy State and 1 in the Land of Lincoln.

Why Are These Considered the Worst Colleges and Universities?

According to a new ranking from AvocadoPost, the reasons some of these institutions made the list were due to "notorious for high tuition costs, low graduation rates, and poor return on investment."

Beyond the allure of Ivy League education, it’s crucial to recognize the schools that might offer experiences closer to a fleeting summer job than a life-altering educational opportunity. -Avocado Post

Here are four institutions of higher learning in Wisconsin, and one in Illinois, that made the list of Worst Colleges and Universities in America:

Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin

Lawrence University was ranked #53 on the list of Worst Colleges and Universities partly because of its high annual tuition of around $47,000, but 10 years after enrollment most LU grads are only earning around $44,000 per year.

READ MORE: Illinois Has 2 of America's Best Small Towns to Live In

Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette was ranked the #40 Worst University in the U.S. because of the property crime in and around campus and it was ranked by Insurify as the #9 most dangerous college campus in the country.

University of Wisconsin System

The University of Wisconsin System has come under scrutiny for leadership decisions, particularly regarding free speech. When the president reprimanded a faculty member over their choice of speakers for a sex education course, followed by an intense audit, it signaled a worrying trend.

DeVry University in Chicago, Illinois

DeVry was ranked #37 for a "less-than-stellar reputation is underscored by a low 21% graduation rate, impersonal online classes, and students burdened with substantial debt," according to AvocadoPost.

Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin

Northland College was ranked as the #3 Worst College in U.S. mostly because it has an
"annual cost of around $36,183 and a graduation rate of only 46%, the college’s return on investment appears questionable at best."

CLICK HERE to see the entire list of Worst Colleges and Universities in America.