Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-River Falls #641 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,923, placing University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the 24.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-River Falls #981 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-River Falls #641 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in River Falls, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-River Falls enrolls roughly 4,205 undergraduates. Retention is 76.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 57.0%, reflecting solid completion rates for a regional public institution. Where University of Wisconsin-River Falls performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-River Falls #981 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,114 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the 25.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the university's concentration in agriculture and related applied fields, where graduates move directly into stable, well-compensated careers tied to Wisconsin's agricultural economy and broader agribusiness sectors. Access and affordability anchor the institution's profile. 20.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.5% are first-generation college students, positioning University of Wisconsin-River Falls as a broad-access regional institution. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the 32.2 percentile for access and the 80.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students seeking strong long-term financial outcomes without the cost burden of selective private institutions, University of Wisconsin-River Falls delivers reliable value through its applied program portfolio and regional labor-market alignment.
Waynesburg University's published cost of attendance is $19,781. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $8,472, middle-income families pay around $10,796, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,234. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-River Falls #277 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. Waynesburg's aid structure combines need-based grants with federal and institutional loans to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,500; 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 $54,923, median federal debt of $20,500 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.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a strong fit for students interested in agriculture and applied fields who want a public university experience in Wisconsin's rural northwest region. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,923, placing University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the 24.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $8,114 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 25.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a significant population of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 20.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.5% are first-generation. This cohort achieves earnings in the 52.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Agriculture (15% of degrees), and the rural location may not suit students seeking urban opportunities. Those whose interests align with the institution's strengths will find solid outcomes relative to WI's no-degree baseline of $35,275.
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-River Falls hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Physics
13 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
28 graduates
Agricultural Engineering
5 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
173 graduates
Biology, General
86 graduates
University of Wisconsin-River Falls's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied fields aligned with regional workforce demand. Animal Sciences is the largest program with 184 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Teacher Education, Biology, General, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education.
The institution's dominant concentration in Agriculture reflects a deliberate focus on fields with stable employment and direct labor-market entry pathways. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health and applied professional fields.
Business Administration graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $65,509, while Biology, General graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,875 and Agricultural Business and Management graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,307. These programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in fields with consistent hiring demand.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls's program portfolio emphasizes applied professional preparation over research-intensive or graduate-school-dependent pathways. The concentration in Agriculture and related applied fields positions graduates for stable employment in sectors with predictable wage growth.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Angelo State University Similar quality tier (#19154 ranked) | TX | 83% | $50,116 | #19154 | Compare |
University Of South Carolina Aiken Similar quality tier (#19157 ranked) | SC | 79% | $45,603 | #19157 | Compare |
Southeast Missouri State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#19147 ranked) | MO | 74% | $44,030 | #19147 | Compare |
University Of Arkansas-Fort Smith Similar quality tier (#19145 ranked) | AR | 80% | $41,102 | #19145 | Compare |
The University Of Tennessee-Martin Similar quality tier (#19141 ranked) | TN | 88% | $44,213 | #19141 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Waynesburg University's published cost of attendance is $19,781. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $8,472, middle-income families pay around $10,796, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,234.
Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-River Falls #277 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.
Waynesburg's aid structure combines need-based grants with federal and institutional loans to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,500; 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 $54,923, median federal debt of $20,500 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-River Falls earn median 4-year earnings of $54,923, placing the institution in the 24.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,114 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the 25.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-River Falls #981 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 33.7 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects the university's agricultural focus, with Agriculture representing 15% of graduates. Animal Sciences is the largest program with 184 graduates earning median earnings of $48,680 — 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration, Management and Operations program graduates 173 students with earnings of $65,509, while Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods serves 88 graduates earning $46,004. This mix of applied agricultural and professional programs delivers consistent outcomes aligned with Wisconsin's regional labor market needs.
