Compare 8 Real Estate. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $74,678.
The highest-earning Real Estate program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $47K earnings gap across 8 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
University of Wisconsin-Madison's Real Estate program leads with graduates earning $101,000, well above the $75K regional average. Marquette University follows at $89K, proving that smaller programs can compete—their 24-student cohort demonstrates focused attention often beats scale.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Wisconsin graduates borrow $20,484 and face just a 3.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making it both the top earner and best value.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $100,995 | 156 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Good | |
| #2 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $88,908 | 24 | $23,940 | Excellent | $45,500 | Manageable |
| #3 | University Of St ThomasPrivate | $84,275 | 14 | $23,250 | Excellent | $24,467 | Good |
| #4 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $75,147 | 16 | $23,168 | Excellent | $41,563 | Challenging |
| #5 | $72,701 | 37 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $62,765 | 38 | $19,691 | Excellent | $17,670 | Manageable | |
| #7 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $58,575 | 18 | $23,250 | Good | $20,800 | Manageable |
| #8 | $54,061 | 32 | $23,000 | Good | $11,000 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
