Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Platteville #410 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,899, placing University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the 73.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Wisconsin-Platteville sits in the 74.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the strong financial outcomes graduates achieve relative to similar students at comparable institutions. --- University of Wisconsin-Platteville's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of strong graduate earnings relative to cost — a profile anchored by the university's engineering-focused program mix and its standing among the higher-performing public institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates earn about $4,603 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a result that holds up across the university's career-oriented degree programs and places University of Wisconsin-Platteville well above the midpoint for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Platteville #410 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 72.3 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Platteville, WI, University of Wisconsin-Platteville enrolls roughly 5,837 undergraduates. Retention and completion figures reflect a student body that largely follows through: the six-year graduation rate is 55.8%, and freshman retention stands at 79.0%. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Platteville #374 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 74.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,899, placing University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the 73.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,603 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the 74.9 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. That performance is closely tied to the institution's concentration in Engineering, a field that consistently produces strong early-career outcomes. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite. University of Wisconsin-Platteville admits about 89.4% of applicants, reflecting a relatively open admissions posture, and 21.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants while 28.7% are first-generation college students. Affordability sits in the 72.8 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, and mobility sits in the 74.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions — both solid contributors to a composite profile shaped primarily by strong earnings outcomes relative to cost and student background.
Wayne State University's published cost of attendance is $21,266, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,009 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,065, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,245. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Platteville #389 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. Wayne State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for lower-income students — a pattern consistent with a public university serving a high share of Pell-eligible and first-generation undergraduates. Families applying for need-based aid use the FAFSA, and Michigan residents may also qualify for state grant programs that further reduce out-of-pocket costs. The net price illusion is worth understanding here: the published cost of attendance and the price most families actually pay can differ substantially, particularly for students with demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,977, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $70,899, median federal debt of $21,977 projects to a monthly payment of about $248 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville is a strong fit for students seeking an engineering-focused public university experience in Wisconsin with solid long-term financial outcomes.
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $70,899, placing UW-Platteville in the 73.2nd percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $4,603 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 74.9th percentile for earnings beyond expectations.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Wisconsin-Platteville hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
The university serves a mix of students — 21.1% receive Pell Grants and 28.7% are first-generation — while maintaining a net price of $9,009 for low-income families and $20,245 for higher-income families.
Fit depends on program alignment: engineering represents 33% of degrees, with strong earnings outcomes that anchor the institution's economic signature. Students drawn to these fields will find clear pathways to in-demand careers.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Wayne State University's published cost of attendance is $21,266, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,009 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,065, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,245.
Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Platteville #389 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.
Wayne State participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between sticker price and net price is most pronounced for lower-income students — a pattern consistent with a public university serving a high share of Pell-eligible and first-generation undergraduates. Families applying for need-based aid use the FAFSA, and Michigan residents may also qualify for state grant programs that further reduce out-of-pocket costs.
The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is worth understanding here: the published cost of attendance and the price most families actually pay can differ substantially, particularly for students with demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,977, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,000; 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 $70,899, median federal debt of $21,977 projects to a monthly payment of about $248 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 earn median 4-year earnings of $70,899, placing University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the 73.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,603 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the 74.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
That figure runs notably above the $56,249 median at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Platteville #374 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern at University of Wisconsin-Platteville is anchored in Engineering, which drives a large share of degree output and consistently delivers strong early-career pay. Mechanical Engineering stands out as the program combining high enrollment with strong four-year earnings, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Mechanical Engineering is the largest program by cohort scale, graduating 197 students with median earnings of $87,139 four years after enrollment — and Azimuth ranks the program #134 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians and Business Administration follow a similar pattern, with graduates earning $83,958 and $66,306 respectively four years after enrollment, reflecting the institution's concentration in applied technical fields that align closely with regional and national employer demand.
Programs in Engineering account for 33% of degrees, with Business and Education contributing 14% and 6% respectively — a mix that helps explain why median earnings at University of Wisconsin-Platteville outpace those at many comparable institutions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austin Peay State University Similar quality tier (#15168 ranked) | TN | 96% | $44,301 | #15168 | Compare |
Marshall University Similar quality tier (#15165 ranked) | WV | 96% | $46,354 | #15165 | Compare |
Salem State University Similar quality tier (#15171 ranked) | MA | 96% | $56,662 | #15171 | Compare |
University Of Houston-Victoria Similar quality tier (#15161 ranked) | TX | 96% | $54,467 | #15161 | Compare |
Radford University Similar quality tier (#15157 ranked) | VA | 90% | $53,739 | #15157 | Compare |
Computer Engineering
44 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
61 graduates
Industrial Engineering
31 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
197 graduates
Engineering Physics
24 graduates
University of Wisconsin-Platteville's program mix is anchored in engineering — a signature that shapes both the scale and the earnings profile of its graduates. Engineering is the institution's defining concentration, with multiple subfields drawing the largest cohorts and delivering the strongest four-year earnings outcomes.
Across 37 programs serving roughly 1,396 students annually, the university's degree output is focused rather than broad, which concentrates employer recruitment and alumni networks around a core set of technical and applied fields. The highest aggregate return comes from Mechanical Engineering, which combines meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings — making it a key economic driver for the institution.
Among the most popular programs, Mechanical Engineering program graduates 197 students with median earnings of $87,139 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #134 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians and Business Administration follow as the next largest programs by graduate count, each contributing to the institution's engineering-heavy degree output and connecting graduates to stable, in-demand technical roles.
The highest-earning programs at University of Wisconsin-Platteville reflect the same engineering concentration. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering leads with median earnings of $92,443 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #156 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians also post strong early-career figures, with graduates entering high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways in manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology sectors. These programs align well with national labor-market demand for engineering talent, as explored in the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework.
