University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, Wisconsin · Public · 81.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Wisconsin-River Falls scores 66 (Fair Value) - a solid result for a regional UW system campus with a notably strong agricultural and applied sciences identity. The institutional metrics are adequate: $36,700 median 6-year earnings, a 10.1-year payback period, and a 57% completion rate that is modest. In-state tuition of $9,008 and net price of $14,054 are reasonable for the Wisconsin public system. The repayment rate of 83.4% is stronger than the completion rate would suggest - students who finish manage debt reasonably well. The school's agricultural programs are a differentiator: Agricultural Business and Management (42 graduates, $53,911 year-one, B), Agricultural Engineering (2 graduates, $57,627 year-one, B), and Animal Sciences (178 graduates, $37,852 year-one, C) form the backbone of the school's enrollment. Accounting (24 graduates, $56,825 year-one, B) and Physics (9 graduates, $62,196 year-one, C+) represent strong STEM outcomes at a very accessible cost. Teacher Education programs produce C-grade ROI outcomes consistent with constrained starting teacher salaries in the Upper Midwest. Fine and Studio Arts earns an F (19 graduates, $28,801 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.045). UWRF is not a flagship campus, but its agricultural and applied science programs serve a genuine regional workforce need at a cost that makes outcomes defensible for students who complete.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,008/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,470/yr |
| Average net price | $14,054/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $56,216 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,458 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,205 |
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: $9,008/year ($17,470/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 $14,054/year, or roughly $56,216 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 $8,472/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,234/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $20,500 in federal loans, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $54,458 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.56, 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 | $8,472 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,014 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,796 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,578 |
| $110,001+ | $18,234 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $8,472 net price per year - about $33,888 over four years. At $36,700 median 6-year earnings and a 10.1-year payback period, UWRF is a financially accessible option for low-income Wisconsin students pursuing agricultural or applied sciences fields. The 57% completion rate is the primary risk - students who enroll but do not complete leave with debt and limited earnings growth. Low-income students should carefully assess their preparation and program fit before enrolling.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $10,796 per year; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $16,578. These are fair prices for a regional public university. Middle-income families choosing UWRF for agricultural sciences, accounting, or education programs are making a cost-appropriate decision. The payback period of 10.1 years at median earnings is acceptable - better outcomes are available from UW-Madison or UW-Milwaukee, but at higher cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $18,234 per year - roughly $72,936 over four years. For high-income families pursuing agricultural industry careers, UWRF at this cost represents reasonable value if the student completes. For general business or arts programs, higher-earning alternatives within the UW system may offer better long-run outcomes at a comparable or marginally higher cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-River Falls with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Sciences | $48,680 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,509 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $46,004 | C |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $54,043 | C |
| Psychology | $53,242 | C |
| Biology | $60,875 | C |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $57,307 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $51,148 | C |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $50,797 | C |
| Political Science and Government | $51,586 | 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.
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Business and Management (42 graduates) earns $53,911 year-one and $57,307 year-four with a B ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.398). Median debt of $21,445. This is the school's most common program by graduate count among the agricultural cluster. The relatively flat earnings trajectory from year-one to year-four reflects the structure of agribusiness careers in the Upper Midwest - early compensation is competitive, and advancement tracks through farm management, cooperative leadership, and commodity trading. UWRF is among the region's recognized programs for this major.
Accounting
Accounting (24 graduates) earns $56,825 year-one and $73,583 year-four with a B ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.370). Median debt of $21,000. At $9,008 in-state tuition, Accounting at UWRF produces strong debt-to-earnings ratios for a program that would cost two to three times as much at a private institution. Year-one earnings of $56,825 reflect competitive regional placement in Wisconsin's manufacturing, financial services, and agriculture sectors.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (131 graduates) earns $48,570 year-one and $65,509 year-four with a C+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.494). Median debt of $24,000. The largest program by graduate count, Business Admin at UWRF produces middle-of-the-road outcomes - competitive for a regional public at this cost, but the 57% completion rate means that a meaningful share of Business Admin enrollees will not reach these earnings. The year-four figure of $65,509 suggests modest but real career progression.
Animal Sciences
Animal Sciences (178 graduates) earns $37,852 year-one and $48,680 year-four with a C ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.612). Median debt of $23,183. Animal Sciences is UWRF's largest single program by graduate count. Earnings reflect veterinary technician, farm management, and livestock industry pathways - fields with structurally lower starting salaries. At $9,008 in-state tuition, the C grade is acceptable; at any private-institution cost, this program's ROI would be much worse.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (94 graduates) earns $39,546 year-one and $46,004 year-four with a C ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.683). Median debt of $27,000. Teacher Education and Teacher Education, Subject-Specific together represent significant enrollment volume (94 + 71 graduates). Wisconsin starting teacher salaries constrain these outcomes. Graduates entering rural and suburban Wisconsin districts earn modest starting salaries and carry debt at roughly 68% of year-one income. The C grade reflects the structural earnings limitations of public school teaching, not poor placement.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 79.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-River Falls’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 | 81.7% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 4,205 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,788 |
An 81.7% admission rate makes UWRF accessible to most applicants. The school's ACT range of 19-26 reflects open regional enrollment rather than competitive selectivity. Net price ranges from $8,472 (under $30,000 income) to $18,234 (over $110,000) - a compressed and affordable range. At the lowest income bracket, $8,472 per year is among the most affordable public options in Wisconsin. The completion rate of 57% is the primary risk - students who do not finish leave with debt but no degree.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UWRF's Scorecard peer group includes UW-Whitewater, UW-Eau Claire, Westfield State, Christopher Newport, and SUNY Old Westbury. Among UW system campuses, UWRF occupies a specialized niche anchored by agriculture - a distinction that UW-Whitewater (ROI 64) and UW-Parkside (ROI 51) do not share. UWRF's 66 score is fair for a regional comprehensive campus. Its agricultural program identity gives it a defensible reason to exist for students pursuing those specific fields; outside that niche, the outcome data is average for a regional public university.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls (this school) | 66 | $14,054 | $54,458 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| SUNY Old Westbury | 71 | $11,282 | $58,526 |
| Christopher Newport University | 64 | $23,015 | $60,509 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
| Westfield State University | 63 | $16,721 | $57,346 |
Who Thrives Here
UWRF admits 81.7% of applicants - essentially open access. The Scorecard reports ACT mid-range of 19-26 but no SAT data. At 4,205 students, it is a small regional campus. The Pell rate of 20.8% reflects a mostly middle-income Wisconsin student population. The school's identity is deeply tied to agriculture and natural resources - it serves the rural western Wisconsin and Twin Cities metro agricultural corridor. Students interested in farming, agribusiness, food science, and rural resource management will find a fitting environment here.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $14,054 a year after aid ($56,216 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $54,458 a decade out, the cost takes about 10.1 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 $20,500 against $54,458 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.