University Of Wisconsin-Parkside

University of Wisconsin-Parkside's program mix is anchored in Business, which shapes the institution's degree portfolio. Business Administration is the largest program with 126 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with 71 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $46,647, Criminal Justice with 60 graduates earning $54,156, Artificial Intelligence with 43 graduates, and Communication and Media Studies with 42 graduates earning $53,923.

Across 28 total programs serving roughly 767 students annually, several deliver solid earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs at University of Wisconsin-Parkside reflect strength in applied fields.

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other leads with median 4-year earnings of $67,130 from 34 graduates, followed by Accounting with 41 graduates earning $64,177, Biology, General with 40 graduates earning $60,928, Kinesiology with 40 graduates earning $55,240, and Criminal Justice with 60 graduates earning $54,156. The program-mix signature emphasizes Business at 27%, Social Sciences at 7%, and Arts at 6% among nonprofit four-year institutions.

These dominant program families align with regional labor-market demand in Wisconsin and the broader Midwest.

University of Wisconsin-Parkside's published cost of attendance is $18,199, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,425; middle-income families pay around $11,241; and higher-income families pay approximately $17,917.

Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Parkside #191 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

As a public regional university, UW-Parkside offers tuition pricing aligned with Wisconsin's public higher education structure. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.

Most students receive some form of need-based aid, and the net-price structure reflects the university's commitment to keeping education accessible for Wisconsin families across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,492, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,139; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,184, median federal debt of $20,492 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of University of Wisconsin-Parkside earn median 4-year earnings of $55,184, placing the institution in the 25.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,358 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Wisconsin-Parkside in the 39.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Parkside #1071 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 27.7 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful lifetime returns relative to WI's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $35,275 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential).

The earnings pattern reflects the institution's focus on Business, which represents 27% of graduates. Business Administration, Management and Operations is the largest program with 126 graduates, while Psychology, General delivers median earnings of $46,647 — 0.9× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field. Criminal Justice and Corrections also contributes meaningfully to the institution's earnings profile, with graduates earning $54,156 four years after enrollment.