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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI 9,180 Undergrads 65.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$18,661
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$14,785
After Aid
Median Earnings
$55,356
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$14,785
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$55,356
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate65.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time90.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS81.5%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
82.8%
SAT Avg
1,090
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 182175th: 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
+$480k
+$84k
-$4k
Median Cost$15k/yr
+$427k
+$31k
-$57k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$413k
+$17k
-$71k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$15k/yr
Never
-108%
Full Cost$19k/yr
Never
-106%
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-84%
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-63%
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
Associate's Degrees
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$41,203
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,522
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$24,745
Earnings (5yr)
$56,815
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$22,125
Earnings (5yr)
$68,804
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$20,077
Earnings (5yr)
$63,645
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,600
Earnings (5yr)
$59,216
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$23,664
Earnings (5yr)
$93,941
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$25,283
Earnings (5yr)
$54,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,625
Earnings (5yr)
$43,748
Lifetime Value Added
-$144k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$17,750
Earnings (5yr)
$86,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,602
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$73,029
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$21,602
Earnings (5yr)
$44,175
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$18,875
Earnings (5yr)
$57,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,468
Earnings (5yr)
$52,667
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,137
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$42,435
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,223
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$27,922
Earnings (5yr)
$49,173
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,747
Earnings (5yr)
$68,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,942
Earnings (5yr)
$56,282
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$46,845
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$20,733
Earnings (5yr)
$51,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$22,562
Earnings (5yr)
$53,769
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,703
Earnings (5yr)
$50,908
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$23,829
Earnings (5yr)
$59,361
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1507
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,419
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$24,339
Earnings (5yr)
$53,891
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,424
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$51,281
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$26,613
Earnings (5yr)
$45,670
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$25,692
Earnings (5yr)
$51,631
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$22,398
Earnings (5yr)
$41,226
Lifetime Value Added
-$165k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$17,156
Earnings (5yr)
$81,623
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$28,446
Earnings (5yr)
$102,056
Lifetime Value Added
+$430k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,137
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$33,377
Earnings (5yr)
$55,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$49,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,978
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
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.