University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, Wisconsin · Public · 85.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UW-Whitewater earns a 64 (Fair Value). Average 6-year earnings of $37,500, a 9.7-year payback period, and a 58.9% completion rate define the profile. The business school is the institutional anchor: Accounting (76 graduates, $61,926 year-one, B+ grade), Finance (198 graduates, $55,874 year-one, C+ grade), and Business Administration (175 graduates, $55,477 year-one, B grade) produce outcomes well above the school's median. The arts programs drag the average: Drama/Theatre (5 graduates) has a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.22 and an F grade; Fine and Studio Arts (25 graduates) ratio of 0.967. The in-state tuition of $8,616 and net price of $14,158 are low enough that even C-grade programs remain financially survivable if students complete. The 58.9% completion rate is the most significant risk flag - over 40% of students do not earn a degree. Median debt of $23,188 against $37,500 average earnings produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.618, which is higher than ideal.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,616/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,716/yr |
| Average net price | $14,158/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $56,632 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,356 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,188 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,405 |
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: $8,616/year ($18,716/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 $14,158/year, or roughly $56,632 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 $8,440/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,229/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,188, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,500) 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 | $8,440 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,752 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,176 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,551 |
| $110,001+ | $18,229 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $8,440 net price per year - about $33,760 over four years. At this cost, the business school programs produce strong returns. The 58.9% completion rate is the chief concern for low-income students who may not have the support structures to persist. Students who complete accounting or finance programs at this cost level are in a favorable financial position.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $11,176 per year; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $16,551. Middle-income families will find the business programs represent solid value. Arts and social science programs at these prices produce weaker but still manageable outcomes given the low total cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $18,229 net price per year - about $72,916 over four years. At a 9.7-year payback period, the financial case is adequate for business graduates but thin for arts and humanities students. High-income families choosing Whitewater primarily for the business school connection will find the price-to-outcome ratio reasonable.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management | $72,928 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $46,637 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,415 | B |
| Marketing | $67,317 | C+ |
| Psychology | $52,284 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $68,873 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,152 | C |
| Accounting | $78,762 | B+ |
| Biology | $58,118 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $50,827 | 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.
Accounting
Accounting (76 graduates) earns $61,926 year-one and $78,762 year-four with a B+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.347). Median debt of $21,500 against year-one earnings above $60,000 is a clean financial position. Whitewater accounting graduates supply a significant portion of entry-level accounting and audit positions in Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago. The CPA pipeline from this program is well-established with regional public accounting firms.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (198 graduates) earns $55,874 year-one and $72,928 year-four with a C+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.456). Median debt of $25,469 is elevated relative to year-one earnings, pulling the grade below B. The program is large and well-connected to Midwest financial services employers, but the debt-to-earnings ratio reflects that Whitewater finance graduates enter the market at lower starting salaries than graduates from more selective programs.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (175 graduates) earns $55,477 year-one and $73,415 year-four with a B ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.443). The program is generalist and primarily serves students who want regional business employment. Year-one earnings in the mid-$50s reflect solid entry-level placement in Wisconsin and Illinois. Median debt is $24,564.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (47 graduates) earns $52,995 year-one and $79,799 year-four with a C+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.486). Students who complete will likely find adequate employment in regional IT roles, but those targeting national tech employers would benefit from a more selective CS program.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’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 | 85.7% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-24 |
| Enrollment | 9,405 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,017 |
With an 85.7% admission rate and ACT mid-range of 17-24, UW-Whitewater is accessible. The Scorecard does not report SAT ranges. Low-income students who target the business or accounting programs can expect strong returns relative to their investment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (this school) | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| Louisiana Tech University | 64 | $11,864 | $52,279 |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | 64 | $13,441 | $53,909 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | 61 | $13,369 | $52,528 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 60 | $13,297 | $53,390 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Wisconsin-Whitewater side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UW-Whitewater admits 85.7% of applicants; SAT data is not reported but ACT mid-range is 17-24. Enrollment of 9,405 makes it a mid-sized regional campus primarily serving southeastern Wisconsin. Pell rate of 25.2% reflects a mixed-income student body. The business school has a strong regional reputation among Wisconsin employers. Students targeting accounting, finance, or business administration from Wisconsin will find Whitewater's employment connections to Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago-area employers useful. Students in arts, social sciences, or education will see weaker returns.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $14,158 a year after aid ($56,632 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $55,356 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.7 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.
Median debt of $23,188 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,500 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-Whitewater: Common Questions
Is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 64/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,158 a year after aid ($56,632 over four years) against $55,356 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 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 $14,158 a year, or roughly $56,632 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-Whitewater graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,356 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,556 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-Whitewater?
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 9.7 years for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,188, against average earnings of $37,500 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-Whitewater?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.9%. 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.