University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, Wisconsin · Public · 87.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 67/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Wisconsin-Stout earns an overall ROI score of 67/100, placing it in the fair value band on CampusROI's framework. Sticker tuition is $10,701 in-state and $19,265 out-of-state, with average net price after grants and scholarships at $17,490. Average earnings six years after entry land at $41,000, climbing to a median of roughly $58,084 by year ten, producing a payback period of about 9.1 years. Median federal debt of $23,000 works out to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, which is tight. Note that net price ($17,490) actually exceeds in-state tuition ($10,701), which suggests fees, room and board, and limited grant aid are pushing the all-in cost above the headline tuition number. The component scores break down as earnings premium 72/100, completion 49/100, payback 67/100, debt-to-earnings 61/100, repayment 87/100. The lowest sub-score is completion rate at 49/100, which is the main weight pulling the overall number down; the strongest sub-score is loan repayment rate at 87/100. Data points here come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (2024-2025 vintage), and Scorecard earnings carry a 6-10 year reporting lag, so the figures describe recent graduating cohorts rather than this year's incoming class.
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,701/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,265/yr |
| Average net price | $17,490/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $69,960 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,084 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,842 |
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: $10,701/year ($19,265/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 $17,490/year, or roughly $69,960 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 $10,966/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,028/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,000, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,000) 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 | $10,966 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,229 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,164 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,528 |
| $110,001+ | $22,028 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay an average net price of $10,966 per year here. With expected earnings around $58,084 a decade out, that's a workable number - Pell, state grants, and any institutional aid are doing real work to make it accessible, but families should still model debt carefully across four years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) face a net price of about $13,164 per year. These households typically get less Pell support and partial institutional aid, so the tuition bill is more directly felt. Whether the math works depends on the major: programs with stronger early earnings can absorb this cost; lower-paying majors will produce a longer payback period.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families in the $110,000+ bracket pay an average of $22,028 per year.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Stout with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,697 | C+ |
| Design and Applied Arts | $57,718 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,645 | B |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $56,563 | C+ |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $74,146 | C+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $82,853 | C+ |
| Psychology | $52,366 | C |
| Construction Management | $101,758 | B+ |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $77,269 | B |
| Hospitality Administration | $56,451 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration, Management, and Operations (CIP 5202) graduates 171 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $54,826 and four-year earnings of $68,697. Median program debt is $27,000 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, which is manageable. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of C+. Business and management is the workhorse major here; outcomes track closely with the student's region and willingness to relocate for opportunity.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts (CIP 5004) graduates 146 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $40,615 and four-year earnings of $57,718. Median program debt is $27,000 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of C.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (CIP 1419) graduates 79 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $73,260 and four-year earnings of $87,645. Median program debt is $27,000 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, which is manageable. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of B. Engineering majors generally outperform their cost on this kind of campus and are the program family most worth borrowing for if the student can complete.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific (CIP 1313) graduates 79 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $47,230 and four-year earnings of $56,563. Median program debt is $24,500 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of C+. Teacher education leads to relatively low-volatility employment but capped wages, so debt management matters more than at higher-earning majors.
Computer Software and Media Applications
Computer Software and Media Applications (CIP 1108) graduates 75 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $54,639 and four-year earnings of $74,146. Median program debt is $27,000 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, which is manageable. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of C+.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 83.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-Stout’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 | 87.7% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-27 |
| Enrollment | 5,842 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,344 |
The school admits roughly 87.7% of applicants, putting it in the broad-access category (ACT Composite 25th-75th of 20-27). For prepared students with solid high school records the admit decision is unlikely to be the binding constraint here. Selectivity correlates loosely with completion in Scorecard data, and at 54.9% this campus's completion rate is consistent with the broad-access profile.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
University of Wisconsin-Stout sits at ROI 67 with 9.1yr payback.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Stout (this school) | 67 | $17,490 | $58,084 |
| Salisbury University | 74 | $17,743 | $61,515 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake | 69 | $15,563 | $59,004 |
| Eastern Washington University | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
Who Thrives Here
Fit skews toward students who want regional access without paying flagship-level tuition. Median earnings ten years out of $58,084 should be the honest yardstick for whether the price the family will actually pay (see the income-bracket breakdown below) leads to a workable post-graduation budget.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Wisconsin-Stout is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $17,490 a year after aid ($69,960 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $58,084 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,000 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-Stout: Common Questions
Is University of Wisconsin-Stout worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of Wisconsin-Stout is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 67/100 on our ROI scale. At $17,490 a year after aid ($69,960 over four years) against $58,084 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Stout 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 $17,490 a year, or roughly $69,960 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-Stout graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,084 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,284 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-Stout?
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 9.1 years for University of Wisconsin-Stout. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Stout graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,000, against average earnings of $41,000 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-Stout?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.9%. 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.