University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin · Public · 88.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 61/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay scores 61 overall - comfortable Fair Value territory anchored by strong fundamentals. Earnings premium of 72 (32.8% wage lift) and a 0.507 debt-to-earnings ratio scoring 72 are the two pillars. Earnings reach $36,500 at six years and $52,528 at ten years, with median debt of only $18,500, producing an 11-year payback period. The clear soft spot is completion: just 48.2% finish. In-state tuition is $8,700, net price $13,369, four-year cost $53,476. The campus serves 6,341 students with a strong nursing pipeline, solid business and accounting outcomes, and a competitive computer-science program. The story is straightforward: if you finish, the cost-to-earnings math works well - but the institution loses too many students before graduation, which is why a strong financial-on-paper school still scores in the 60s rather than the 70s.
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,700/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,288/yr |
| Average net price | $13,369/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $53,476 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,528 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $196 |
| Estimated payback period | 11 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,341 |
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: $8,700/year ($17,288/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,369/year, or roughly $53,476 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 $9,144/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,975/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,500, which works out to about $196 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,500) and comes to 0.51, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $9,144 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,166 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,169 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,105 |
| $110,001+ | $18,975 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $9,144 net - well below sticker, with four-year cost around $36,600 against $52,528 in 10-year median earnings. Pell stacking on already-low tuition makes UWGB a defensible choice for low-income Wisconsin families, especially in nursing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $11,169 net, four-year cost about $44,700. Still very competitive against the same $52,528 earnings figure. The brackets march cleanly upward (no inversions), which signals well-targeted institutional aid policy.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $16,105; above $110,000 net price hits $18,975. Four-year cost at the top reaches $75,900.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $48,711 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,276 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $84,588 | B |
| Education, General | $44,331 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $58,093 | C+ |
| Human Biology | $56,117 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,550 | C |
| Biology | $51,038 | D |
| Social Work | $54,252 | C |
| Accounting | $77,802 | C+ |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is UWGB's strongest program: 108 graduates earning $70,213 in year one and $84,588 by year four. Median debt of $28,045 produces a 0.399 debt-to-earnings ratio and B grade. A defensible nursing pipeline with reliable outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 199 graduates earning $48,709 in year one and $62,276 by year four, against $22,264 median debt for a 0.457 ratio (C+ grade). Northeast Wisconsin's manufacturing and insurance corridor (Schneider, Humana, Associated Bank) provides employer demand.
Computer Science
Computer Science produces 31 graduates earning $52,324 in year one and $69,304 by year four, with $23,677 debt for a 0.453 ratio (C+ grade). Year-four earnings growth of $17K signals real career-track mobility for graduates who stay in the field.
Education, General
Education produces 100 graduates earning $42,768 in year one and $44,331 by year four. Median debt of $23,250 yields a 0.544 ratio (C+ grade). The flat 1-to-4-year earnings curve is typical of Wisconsin public-school teacher pay scales; PSLF eligibility makes this debt manageable on those salaries.
Psychology
Psychology is the third-largest program with 214 graduates - but earnings disappoint: $36,068 in year one rising only to $48,711 by year four against $25,737 debt (0.714 ratio, D grade). National psychology bachelor's-only earnings are weak, and UWGB shows the same pattern. Students should plan on graduate school to capture real career value.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 | 88.6% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 6,341 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,077 |
UW-Green Bay admits 88.6% of applicants - broadly accessible. SAT scores are not reported in current Scorecard data, but ACT mid-range of 18-24 reflects a standard regional-public academic profile. The 48.2% completion rate is the more telling number: high admit rates plus modest entering scores typically translate to persistence challenges, and UWGB shows that pattern. Prepared in-state students have nearly automatic access; the bigger question is fit and finish-rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (this school) | 61 | $13,369 | $52,528 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
| Stockton University | 62 | $20,670 | $57,602 |
| Empire State University | 61 | $11,676 | $54,080 |
| Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 60 | $11,196 | $54,338 |
Who Thrives Here
UWGB fits cost-conscious Wisconsin students aiming at nursing, business, accounting, education, or social-services careers in northeast Wisconsin. Pell rate of 21.8% indicates a mostly middle-class student body. Enrollment of 6,341 supports broad program selection without flagship scale. The strongest outcomes are concentrated in nursing (108 grads, B grade) and business (199 grads, C+ grade); arts, biology, and psychology cohorts face weaker debt-to-earnings math.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $13,369 a year after aid ($53,476 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $52,528 a decade out, the cost takes about 11 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What to keep an eye on: its 48.2% graduation rate.
Median debt of $18,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay: Common Questions
Is University of Wisconsin-Green Bay worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 61/100 on our ROI scale. At $13,369 a year after aid ($53,476 over four years) against $52,528 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 11 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Green Bay cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,369 a year, or roughly $53,476 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Wisconsin-Green Bay graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,528 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,728 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Wisconsin-Green Bay?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11 years for University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Green Bay graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,500, against average earnings of $36,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay?
The six-year graduation rate is 48.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.