University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, Wisconsin · Public · 91.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 55/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point posts a 55 ROI score in the Below Average Value tier, but the underlying picture is more positive than that label suggests. In-state tuition is just $9,488 with a $14,559 net price after aid, totaling $58,236 across four years. Earnings climb from $34,500 at six years to $52,021 by year ten - a strong 51% growth reflecting graduates building careers in central Wisconsin's diverse economy (paper/forest products, healthcare, education, plus state and county government). The 11.6-year payback period and the 0.623 debt-to-earnings ratio against $21,503 of median debt are reasonable. The standout strengths are the 82.3% three-year repayment rate (excellent) and the deep program portfolio that includes specialized programs in paper science, forestry, fisheries, and wildlife management - niche but high-paying pipelines for the right student. The score-dragger is completion at 50.8%. UWSP is a quality public for Wisconsin students choosing strong programs (chemical engineering, nursing, paper science, accounting, CS) - the topline 55 understates the value available to students who pick well.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,488/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,508/yr |
| Average net price | $14,559/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $58,236 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,021 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,503 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,306 |
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: $9,488/year ($18,508/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 $14,559/year, or roughly $58,236 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 $8,833/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,737/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,503, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,500) and comes to 0.62, 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 | $8,833 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,609 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,428 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,042 |
| $110,001+ | $18,737 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $8,833 net per year - below the in-state tuition figure, indicating Pell stacks effectively here. Combined with Wisconsin Grant aid, the actual out-of-pocket can be very low. Across four years, the listed $35K is workable; real out-of-pocket for Pell-eligible students is often less. This is a genuinely affordable option for low-income Wisconsin students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Brackets behave normally: $30,001-$48,000 pays $9,609, $48,001-$75,000 pays $11,428, $75,001-$110,000 jumps to $17,042. Middle-income Wisconsin families face $38K-$68K over four years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $18,737 - close to the listed in-state tuition with minimal need-based aid (mostly merit). At $75K over four years for graduates earning $34K-$52K, the math is reasonable. Out-of-state students paying full freight ($18,508 tuition) face less compelling value but can still extract good ROI in the strong specialty programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $45,181 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,760 | C+ |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $42,330 | D |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $53,642 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $47,537 | C |
| Psychology | $51,024 | D |
| Biology | $52,187 | D |
| Forestry | $55,724 | C |
| Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $52,424 | C+ |
| Sociology | $48,451 | 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.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering is UWSP's standout: 18 graduates with $84,047 first-year and $100,375 four-year earnings against $22,565 debt - a 0.268 debt-to-earnings ratio and B+ grade. Six-figure four-year earnings on $23K of debt is textbook excellent. Wisconsin's paper, food processing, and chemical industries (Kimberly-Clark, Procter & Gamble, plus pharma adjacent employers) absorb graduates at strong starting pay. This program decisively justifies the school's price tag.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (28 graduates) shows $68,395 first-year and $81,789 four-year earnings against $18,987 debt - a 0.278 ratio and B+ grade. Wisconsin healthcare employers (Aspirus, Marshfield Clinic, Ascension Wisconsin) absorb BSN graduates reliably. Strong cost-outcome math.
Paper Science and Engineering
Paper Science is UWSP's signature niche: 15 graduates with $99,625 four-year earnings (first-year not reported). Wisconsin is the historic center of the U.S. pulp-and-paper industry. Even as the broader paper industry contracts, surviving employers (Kimberly-Clark, Georgia-Pacific, plus Wisconsin paper mills) actively recruit UWSP graduates. Niche, but a genuine specialty pipeline.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is UWSP's largest program (119 graduates) with $43,087 first-year and $45,181 four-year earnings against $25,240 debt - a 0.586 ratio and C grade. The C grade reflects the standard teaching-degree problem (modest earnings, manageable debt). Students should plan on Wisconsin Teacher Loan or federal PSLF for long-run debt management.
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
Wildlife Management is one of UWSP's larger programs (84 graduates) but the financial outcomes are weak: $27,273 first-year and $42,330 four-year earnings against $25,556 debt - a 0.937 ratio and D grade. Wildlife biology jobs are low-paying federal/state government roles or seasonal contract work. UWSP's wildlife program is academically respected but the labor market does not pay well. Students should be honest about the financial trade-off they're making for a passion-driven career.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’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 | 91.8% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-26 |
| Enrollment | 7,306 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,919 |
UWSP admits 91.8% of applicants. SAT data is not reported; ACT mid-50% bands run 20-26. The completion rate is 50.8%. Prepared, full-time Wisconsin students arriving with college-prep coursework generally finish on time. The school's specialized programs (especially natural resources and paper science) attract focused students who tend to complete.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (this school) | 55 | $14,559 | $52,021 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | 54 | $18,745 | $57,780 |
| Southern Connecticut State University | 52 | $20,857 | $55,043 |
Who Thrives Here
UWSP fits Wisconsin students who want an affordable public with strong natural-sciences, education, and professional programs in a small-town residential setting. The school's national-leadership programs in paper science, forestry, fisheries, and wildlife management draw focused students who often go on to high-paying technical careers. Outcomes look strongest for chemical engineering, nursing, paper science, accounting, and CS graduates. Liberal arts and arts-heavy programs (theater, dance, fine arts) face standard weak ROI.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $14,559 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,021 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: its 50.8% graduation rate.
Median debt of $21,503 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, 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-Stevens Point: Common Questions
Is University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point scores 55/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,559 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,021 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 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 $14,559 a year, or roughly $58,236 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-Stevens Point graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,021 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,221 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-Stevens Point?
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 11.6 years for University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,503, against average earnings of $34,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. 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-Stevens Point?
The six-year graduation rate is 50.8%. 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.