College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Menomonie, WI 5,900 Undergrads 59.8% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$21,618
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,365
After Aid
Median Earnings
$58,084
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$17,365
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$58,084
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate59.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time83.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
84.7%
SAT Avg
1,150
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 192375th: 26

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
+$502k
+$105k
+$17k
Median Cost$17k/yr
+$439k
+$43k
-$45k
Full Cost$22k/yr
+$424k
+$28k
-$60k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
48
Median Cost$17k/yr
Never
-72%
Full Cost$22k/yr
Never
-78%
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-38%

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-56%
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

Bachelor's Degrees

Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$20,520
Earnings (5yr)
$93,222
Lifetime Value Added
+$230k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,831
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$78,990
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
BachCIP: 1109
Median Debt
$22,881
Earnings (5yr)
$91,351
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Construction Management
BachCIP: 5220
Median Debt
$20,175
Earnings (5yr)
$97,088
Lifetime Value Added
+$259k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,582
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Engineering Technology, General
BachCIP: 1500
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$75,630
Lifetime Value Added
+$99k
Engineering-Related Fields
BachCIP: 1515
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$83,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$58,911
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
$23,290
Earnings (5yr)
$61,093
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (2yr)
$34,526
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,914
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$45,358
Lifetime Value Added
-$140k
Manufacturing Engineering
BachCIP: 1436
Median Debt
$25,200
Earnings (5yr)
$81,185
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$257k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$51,905
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (5yr)
$50,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$40,896
Lifetime Value Added
-$156k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,260
Earnings (5yr)
$40,807
Lifetime Value Added
-$178k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$22,963
Earnings (5yr)
$53,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k

Master's Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$31,805
Earnings (2yr)
$49,436
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$18,087
Earnings (5yr)
$60,376
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$37,007
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$29,295
Earnings (2yr)
$44,021
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$30,760
Earnings (5yr)
$56,339
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k

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.