Students at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater achieve above-average earnings while maintaining affordable costs, creating a strong value proposition for Wisconsin families.
The university excels at economic mobility, ranking in the top 10% nationally for helping students advance financially regardless of their starting point.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater delivers reliable value as a mid-sized public university that consistently helps students achieve strong financial outcomes. While Azimuth doesn't provide a specific national ranking for UW-Whitewater, the institution performs well above average in key areas that matter most to families: graduates earn more than typical public university students, net prices remain affordable across income levels, and debt loads stay manageable relative to post-graduation earning power.
What distinguishes UW-Whitewater is its practical approach to career preparation, particularly in business and technology fields. Nearly 70% of graduates achieve earnings that place the university well above the national average for similar institutions, while maintaining affordability that makes it accessible to middle-class families. The university serves as an "Opportunity Builder" in Azimuth's mobility framework, meaning it provides solid pathways to economic advancement without the high costs or competitive admissions processes of more selective institutions.
As a comprehensive regional university in Wisconsin, UW-Whitewater combines the resources of a larger institution with the focused attention that helps students transition successfully into careers. For families seeking predictable costs, strong job placement, and graduates who can comfortably repay their student loans, UW-Whitewater represents a dependable choice that delivers on its promises without unnecessary complexity or risk.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's program portfolio reflects a practical focus on career-ready fields that consistently deliver strong employment outcomes. Business programs dominate the landscape, with Business Administration and Management enrolling 222 students annually while Banking and Financial Support Services combines high enrollment of 219 graduates with solid median earnings of $49,324. These business concentrations create the university's economic foundation, generating both scale and strong aggregate returns that benefit the broader institutional profile.
Technology programs represent the university's highest-earning pathway, with Artificial Intelligence graduates achieving median earnings of $59,576 despite the program's smaller scale of 62 graduates. This demonstrates UW-Whitewater's ability to compete in high-demand technical fields while maintaining the focused attention that helps students succeed. Even programs with more modest early-career earnings, such as Psychology at $31,495 for 105 graduates, contribute to the university's comprehensive approach to serving diverse student interests while maintaining overall strong financial outcomes.
The program mix reflects Wisconsin's economic landscape, emphasizing practical skills and direct pathways to employment in business, finance, and emerging technology sectors. This alignment between academic offerings and regional job markets helps explain why UW-Whitewater graduates achieve above-average earnings and maintain low default rates, as students enter fields with clear career progression and stable employment opportunities.
Graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater achieve solid long-term earnings that place the institution well above average among public universities. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $55,356, with the university ranking in the 69th percentile nationally for earnings outcomes. Students also benefit from earnings that exceed expectations by about $1,154 compared with similar students at other institutions, demonstrating the university's ability to add meaningful value to student outcomes beyond what their backgrounds might predict.
The strongest financial returns come from the university's business and technology programs. Banking and Financial Support Services stands out as both a high-enrollment major with 219 graduates and the program with the highest aggregate return, combining solid graduate numbers with median earnings of $49,324. Business Administration and Management represents the largest program footprint with 222 graduates earning around $47,327, while Artificial Intelligence emerges as the highest-earning field with graduates reaching $59,576 in median earnings. Even programs like Psychology, which typically show more modest early-career earnings at $31,495, still contribute to the university's overall strong performance in helping students achieve financial stability and career progression over time.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater maintains strong affordability across all income levels, ranking in the 73rd percentile nationally for keeping costs manageable. Low-income students pay an average net price of $8,426 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $14,049 per year, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,142. This pricing structure makes UW-Whitewater accessible to a broad range of Wisconsin families while remaining competitive with other public universities in the region.
Debt levels remain reasonable and sustainable given graduate earning outcomes. Typical students leave with about $23,188 in federal student loan debt, while families who choose Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $16,000. With graduates earning a median of $55,356 ten years out, most borrowers can handle standard repayment comfortably, and the university maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that students successfully manage their debt obligations. The combination of moderate borrowing and solid post-graduation earnings creates a sustainable financial model that allows students to invest in their education without taking on excessive risk.
University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
