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). The institutional metrics are adequate: $36,700 average 6-year earnings, a 10.1-year payback period, and a 57% completion rate that is modest. 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's 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 |
| Average 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), 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 $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.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,700) and comes to 0.56, 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 | $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 average 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. 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.
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.
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.
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 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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 79.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-River Falls’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 | 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, the net price is $8,472 per year. 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.
| 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. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, 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-River Falls: Common Questions
Is University of Wisconsin-River Falls worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of Wisconsin-River Falls is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 66/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,054 a year after aid ($56,216 over four years) against $54,458 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 10.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Wisconsin-River Falls 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 $14,054 a year, or roughly $56,216 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-River Falls graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,458 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,658 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-River Falls?
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 10.1 years for University of Wisconsin-River Falls. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $36,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. 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-River Falls?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.0%. 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.