University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, Wisconsin · Public · 89.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UW-Platteville scores 75 (Strong Value) - a strong result for a regional Wisconsin public university built around engineering and agriculture. Average six-year earnings of $41,300 are solid given the $16,032 net price. The 55.8% completion rate is the primary weakness. Engineering programs dominate the top of the earnings table: Electrical (47 graduates, $77,405 year one), Industrial (35 graduates, $76,952 year one), Mechanical (154 graduates, $71,612 year one), and Civil (82 graduates, $69,582 year one) all carry B+ or B ROI grades at debt-to-earnings ratios of 0.30-0.36. Students who complete a Platteville engineering degree are well-positioned for Wisconsin and Midwest manufacturing and construction careers.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville scores in the top 19% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,644/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,603/yr |
| Average net price | $16,032/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $64,128 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,760 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,977 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $233 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,837 |
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: $8,644/year ($17,603/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 $16,032/year, or roughly $64,128 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 $9,009/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,245/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,977, which works out to about $233 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,300) and comes to 0.53, 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 | $9,009 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,459 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,065 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,984 |
| $110,001+ | $20,245 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-$30,000 income bracket pays $9,009 per year - a strong value for a Wisconsin resident with financial need. Low-income engineering students at this price point face an excellent financial equation if they complete the degree.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $12,065 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket rises to $17,984 per year. Middle-income families in engineering programs are looking at a 6-8 year payback from graduation. Non-STEM families should be more careful: at $17,984 net price for the upper-middle bracket, teacher education and kinesiology programs take much longer to break even.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $20,245 per year - $80,980 over four years. At this price, engineering, CS, and agriculture are clear financial wins.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Platteville with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,139 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $59,533 | C |
| Civil Engineering | $81,976 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $43,805 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,306 | C+ |
| Biology | $50,540 | C |
| Security Science and Technology | $50,368 | C |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $83,958 | B |
| Electrical Engineering | $92,443 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $82,652 | B |
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.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (47 graduates) earns $77,405 year one and $92,443 year four with a B+-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.300 and $23,251 median debt. This is Platteville's top-earning program - electrical engineers place into Wisconsin and Midwest manufacturing, power systems, and automation sectors where entry wages are strong. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.300 is among the best at the institution.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (154 graduates) is Platteville's highest-volume engineering program, earning $71,612 year one and $87,139 year four with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.363 and $26,000 median debt. This is where Platteville's reputation is strongest - the engineering output feeds Wisconsin manufacturers including heavy equipment, agricultural equipment, and industrial systems companies. The volume is meaningful: 154 ME graduates represent genuine scale for a regional campus.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering (82 graduates) earns $69,582 year one and $81,976 year four with a B+-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.338 and $23,522 median debt. Civil engineers from Platteville work in infrastructure, transportation, and construction management roles across the Midwest. The debt-to-earnings ratio is strong for a public regional school, and civil engineering salaries grow significantly with licensure (PE credential).
Computer and Information Sciences
CS (41 graduates) earns $68,711 year one and $82,652 year four with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.364 and $25,000 median debt. These are strong outcomes for a regional public CS program. Platteville's CS graduates compete in Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago tech markets. The smaller program size limits Scorecard confidence but the earnings trajectory is consistent with regional tech demand.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (89 graduates) is one of Platteville's larger non-STEM programs: $41,636 year one, $59,533 year four, C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.600 and $25,000 median debt.
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Business (37 graduates) earns $54,473 year one and $66,059 year four with a B+-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.280 - the best debt-to-earnings ratio at UW-Platteville, helped by very low median debt of $15,276. Wisconsin's agricultural economy creates steady demand for ag business graduates, and Platteville's location in dairy country gives students genuine exposure to the industry they'll work in.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-Platteville’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 | 89.4% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-28 |
| Enrollment | 5,837 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,885 |
UW-Platteville admits 89.4% of applicants with an ACT composite of 21-28; SAT data is not reported. This is an open-access institution for Wisconsin residents in practice. Admission is not a barrier; persistence through the engineering curriculum is the real filter.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Platteville's score is 75, its repayment rate is 88.9%, and its completion rate is 55.8%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville (this school) | 75 | $16,032 | $61,760 |
| Salisbury University | 74 | $17,743 | $61,515 |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth | 74 | $18,743 | $62,616 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake | 69 | $15,563 | $59,004 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
Who Thrives Here
UW-Platteville is an excellent fit for Wisconsin residents who want an engineering or agriculture degree at public prices and are prepared for a rural campus environment in the Driftless region. The 89.4% acceptance rate and ACT range of 21-28 reflect a broadly accessible institution. Students not in STEM or agriculture tracks will find narrower career preparation resources; Criminal Justice (89 graduates) and Teacher Education (71 graduates) produce solid but unspectacular outcomes. The 55.8% completion rate means students should go in with a clear program focus and plan to finish.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Wisconsin-Platteville pays off. You'd pay about $16,032 a year after aid ($64,128 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $61,760 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $21,977 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, 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-Platteville: Common Questions
Is University of Wisconsin-Platteville worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Wisconsin-Platteville pays off. It scores 75/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $16,032 a year after aid ($64,128 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $61,760 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.6 years to earn back.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Platteville 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 $16,032 a year, or roughly $64,128 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-Platteville graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,760 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,960 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-Platteville?
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 7.6 years for University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Platteville graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,977, against average earnings of $41,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. 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-Platteville?
The six-year graduation rate is 55.8%. 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.