University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin · Public · 82.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire scores 72 (Fair Value), earning solid marks on earnings premium (76) and repayment rate (83.9%) but constrained by a 63.8% completion rate and an 8.8-year payback period. Median 6-year earnings are $40,200 at a net price of $16,550, making it one of the more affordable public options in Wisconsin. Computer and Information Sciences (65 graduates, $73,321 year one) and Nursing (123 graduates, $70,250 year one) are the top earners; International Relations (40 graduates, D-grade ROI) and Fine and Studio Arts (35 graduates, D-grade) anchor the low end. With 8,895 enrolled students, UWEC is a mid-size comprehensive university serving western Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,642/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,228/yr |
| Average net price | $16,550/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $66,200 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,561 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,909 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $222 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,895 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,642/year ($19,228/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,550/year, or roughly $66,200 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,270/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,778/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $20,909 in federal loans, which works out to about $222 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $58,561 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.52, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,270 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,968 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,766 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,278 |
| $110,001+ | $20,778 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The $0-30,000 income bracket pays $10,270 per year at UWEC - a genuinely affordable price point. At four-year total cost around $41,000 and $40,200 median 6-year earnings, the financial case is defensible for students completing a degree. The 8.8-year payback at this cost level is competitive for a mid-size public university.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001-75,000) pay $10,968-$12,766 per year. These are low net prices by any national standard. The financial risk at UWEC is completion rather than cost; the 63.8% graduation rate means investing in a school where 36% of students don't finish is the core uncertainty.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $20,778 per year - about $83,000 over four years in-state. This is an excellent cost-value proposition for high-income in-state families choosing UWEC, particularly for CS and nursing students. Out-of-state at $19,228 tuition, the calculus is different; Wisconsin residents get the best deal.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $58,458 | C |
| Marketing | $70,891 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,606 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $75,724 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $78,912 | B+ |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $57,862 | B |
| Biology | $59,937 | C |
| Special Education and Teaching | $47,877 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,762 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,907 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (65 graduates) earns $73,321 year one and $106,724 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.308 (ROI grade B+). The four-year trajectory to $107k reflects the Twin Cities and Milwaukee tech markets accessible from Eau Claire, as well as remote-work placements. At $16,550 net price, the CS program at UWEC is one of the better public university ROI cases in Wisconsin.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (123 graduates) earns $70,250 year one and $78,912 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.292 (ROI grade B+). Wisconsin nursing wages are solid and the year-one figure reflects immediate licensure placement. Median debt of $20,500 is low for a four-year nursing program, giving this program a clean debt-income relationship.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (130 graduates) is UWEC's highest-volume program in the ROI-graded range. Year-one earnings are $58,812 and year-four $75,724 with debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.352 (ROI grade B). The four-year figure is moderate; Twin Cities finance placements drive the higher end of that distribution. At $20,673 median debt and $16,550 net price, the absolute cost basis makes the B grade financially reasonable.
Marketing
Marketing (138 graduates) earns $51,621 year one and $70,891 at year four with debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.424 (ROI grade B). The B grade at this volume makes marketing one of the more reliable mid-tier programs at UWEC. Year-one earnings are below business average nationally but competitive for a regional Wisconsin labor market.
International Relations
International Relations (40 graduates) earns $26,268 year one and $50,316 at year four with debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.912 (ROI grade D). The D grade reflects low near-term earnings and a near-unity debt-to-annual-salary ratio at year one. IR graduates in Eau Claire are not in the DC or NYC policy market that would boost these figures; many enter NGO, nonprofit, or government roles with modest starting salaries.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 81.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 82.3% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-27 |
| Enrollment | 8,895 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 19.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,157 |
UWEC accepts 82.3% of applicants. ACT 22-27 is the composite mid-range; no SAT data is reported. Admission is accessible. Students who perform in the middle-to-upper range of this ACT bracket and have identified a specific major are likely to succeed; students with no clear direction may face higher attrition given the completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UWEC's peer group includes UW-Whitewater, UW-Green Bay, UMass-Lowell, UMass-Boston, and University of Minnesota-Duluth. UW-Whitewater is a direct UW System peer with stronger business school outcomes; UW-Green Bay is smaller and more focused. UMass-Lowell has a stronger engineering profile and is in a higher-wage Massachusetts market. Within the UW System, UWEC's ROI score of 72 is roughly comparable to the system average for comprehensive campuses. Its completion rate (63.8%) is the primary drag relative to the System's better performers.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (this school) | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | 76 | $17,163 | $64,874 |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth | 74 | $18,743 | $62,616 |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | 67 | $17,707 | $65,865 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | 61 | $13,369 | $52,528 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UWEC fits in-state Wisconsin students who want a mid-size residential public university in a tight-knit college town with strong nursing, business, and health sciences programs. The 82.3% acceptance rate is broadly accessible; ACT 22-27 composite reflects a range of academic preparation. The 63.8% completion rate is below what a flagship university would post, which is typical for comprehensive regional universities but worth noting for students evaluating persistence risk. The 19.6% Pell grant rate indicates modest low-income enrollment.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,550 a year after aid ($66,200 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $58,561 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $20,909 against $58,561 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.