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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 16,762 Undergrads 52.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$22,174
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,177
After Aid
Median Earnings
$54,990
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,177
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$54,990
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate52.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients31.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time87.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.6%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
88.4%
SAT Avg
1,090
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 182275th: 24
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$477k
+$81k
-$7k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$419k
+$23k
-$65k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$398k
+$1k
-$87k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-112%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-109%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-93%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-71%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Behavioral Sciences
CertCIP: 3017
Median Debt
$19,629
Earnings (5yr)
$51,727
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
International Business
CertCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$23,625
Earnings (5yr)
$55,330
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,437
Earnings (5yr)
$45,431
Lifetime Value Added
+$19k
Medical Illustration and Informatics
CertCIP: 5127
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,295
Lifetime Value Added
+$318k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
CertCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$24,528
Earnings (5yr)
$58,504
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Associate's Degrees
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$5,202
Earnings (5yr)
$47,037
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$76,212
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$24,491
Earnings (5yr)
$42,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$24,237
Earnings (5yr)
$62,605
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,185
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$22,775
Earnings (5yr)
$70,902
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,061
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$75,258
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,695
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,792
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$25,613
Earnings (5yr)
$83,381
Lifetime Value Added
+$161k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
$26,835
Earnings (5yr)
$68,982
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,174
Lifetime Value Added
-$88k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$72,482
Lifetime Value Added
+$113k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$90,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$24,525
Earnings (5yr)
$57,315
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$25,742
Earnings (2yr)
$21,234
Lifetime Value Added
-$331k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$35,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$221k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (5yr)
$68,869
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$28,375
Earnings (5yr)
$47,785
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Educational Administration and Supervision
BachCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$27,668
Earnings (5yr)
$46,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$89,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$210k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$24,414
Earnings (5yr)
$42,815
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,530
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,542
Lifetime Value Added
-$168k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (5yr)
$65,224
Lifetime Value Added
+$24k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,848
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$22,361
Earnings (5yr)
$44,943
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,218
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,413
Lifetime Value Added
+$41k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,825
Earnings (5yr)
$52,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,097
Earnings (5yr)
$48,145
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$22,950
Earnings (5yr)
$68,182
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$18,544
Earnings (5yr)
$86,436
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$71,313
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$67,908
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$54,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,875
Earnings (5yr)
$62,368
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,586
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$83,079
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$85,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,448
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$87,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$24,609
Earnings (5yr)
$87,002
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,276
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$122k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$22,055
Earnings (5yr)
$39,577
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$26,937
Earnings (5yr)
$49,496
Lifetime Value Added
-$101k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$116k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$56,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,940
Earnings (5yr)
$50,559
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$77,482
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$48,986
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$44,527
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,941
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (5yr)
$49,042
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$49,160
Lifetime Value Added
-$104k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$44,601
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,601
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Education, General
PB-CertCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,499
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Master's Degrees
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,498
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,631
Lifetime Value Added
+$149k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (5yr)
$96,223
Lifetime Value Added
+$377k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$71,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,268
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$37,397
Earnings (2yr)
$54,661
Lifetime Value Added
+$45k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$28,500
Earnings (5yr)
$63,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$36,922
Earnings (5yr)
$63,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Engineering, General
MastCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$115,746
Lifetime Value Added
+$545k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,395
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$35,477
Earnings (5yr)
$56,672
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$268k
Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$76,170
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$35,013
Earnings (5yr)
$74,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$49,135
Earnings (5yr)
$91,630
Lifetime Value Added
+$338k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$60,250
Earnings (5yr)
$52,819
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
MastCIP: 1309
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$36,134
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Social Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 4599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$71k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$64,971
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Graduate Certificates
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Gr-CertCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$63,574
Lifetime Value Added
+$164k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$74,576
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
English Language and Literature, General
DocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Professional Degrees
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
ProfCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$49,804
Earnings (5yr)
$105,672
Lifetime Value Added
+$279k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
ProfCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$66,500
Earnings (5yr)
$75,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.