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University of Wisconsin-Stout logo
Public Menomonie, WI · Town · Great Lakes · 100% data
B+ Earnings B- Value C Affordability
Graduation Rate
54% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$58,084 B+
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$17,490 C
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
88% D+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +42% vs avg
Graduation -6% vs avg
Net Price 2% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.7 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Wisconsin.

19.7× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $19.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,309,902.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 42% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $19.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

World Rank
#43
Times Higher Education
Research Score
65/100
Times Higher Education

Why University of Wisconsin-Stout Matters

University of Wisconsin-Stout is a public university in Menomonie, WI ranked #43 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
5,842
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Engineering, Education

Why students choose University of Wisconsin-Stout

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Global recognition
Ranked #43 worldwide by Times Higher Education

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 47% overall
B+
Earnings
$58,084 median
B-
Value
3.3× net price
C
Affordability
$17,490/yr net
C-
Graduation
54% graduate
D+
Selectivity
88% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.31 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an acceptance rate of 88%, the University of Wisconsin-Stout welcomes a diverse student body, making it a solid choice for those looking to explore practical fields. Students here often dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, and Visual & Performing Arts. This broad array means there’s something for everyone, especially if you're drawn to hands-on learning and real-world applications.

After graduation, students can expect a promising financial future, with average earnings of $58,084 ten years post-degree. This figure reflects the university’s focus on career-oriented programs that align well with job market needs. While this school has a 54% graduation rate, many find their footing and do well after crossing the stage, particularly in fields like Engineering and Education, which often lead to stable job placement.

When it comes to the financial aspect, the net price after aid stands at $17,490. With a median debt of $23,000, it’s manageable for many graduates, especially considering the earning potential. Those who thrive here tend to be driven and focused on practical skills, looking to leverage their education into solid career opportunities without accumulating overwhelming debt.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Wisconsin-Stout is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Wisconsin-Stout? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of Wisconsin-Stout, located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,150. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.

Acceptance Rate
88%
Retention Rate
79%
SAT Average
1150
ACT Midpoint
23
ACT Range
20–27
Full-Time Faculty
72%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,344
Student–Faculty Ratio
18:1
Diversity Index
0.31
First-Gen Students
28%
Applicants
6,231
Admitted
5,378

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Wisconsin-Stout? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Wisconsin-Stout is $19,265, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,490. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,966 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$10,701
Out-of-State
$19,265
Avg Net Price
$17,490
Median Debt
$23,000
Pell Grant Rate
24%
Federal Loan Rate
48%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$10,966
Family Income $30K–$48K
$12,229
Family Income $48K–$75K
$13,164
Family Income $110K+
$22,028

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is University of Wisconsin-Stout Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Wisconsin-Stout earn a median of $58,084, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$50,251
8 Years
$54,486
10 Years
$58,084
Debt-to-Earnings
0.4x
Earning > $25K
76%

Earnings Trajectory

$50,251 6yr $54,486 8yr $58,084 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (433)
30%
100% (433)
30%
100% (433)
30%
100% (433)
30%

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation54%Earnings 10yr$58KNet Price$17KRetention79%Median Debt$23KPell Grant Rate24%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$12K$30-48K$13K$48-75K$22K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Wisconsin-Stout Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, University of Wisconsin-Stout delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,490/year ($69,960 total). Graduates earn $58,084 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,379,862 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,309,902 (19.7× your investment). The median debt is $23,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 54% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$69,960
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,379,862
Net Return
$1,309,902
ROI Multiple
19.7×
Cost Per Year
$17,490
Median Debt
$23,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
54%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of Wisconsin-Stout? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.71
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.00
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.6%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Research & Teaching

Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings

How Research-Intensive Is University of Wisconsin-Stout? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places University of Wisconsin-Stout at #43 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 65/100, teaching at 56/100, and citation impact of 83/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

World Rank
#43
Teaching
55.5
Research
64.6
Citations
83.4
International
43.7

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Research Score
65/100
Times Higher Ed
Academic Influence
83/100
Citation impact (THE)

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$2,152,701
Investment Income
$49,782

Top Programs

The fields University of Wisconsin-Stout awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Wisconsin-Stout? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

University of Wisconsin-Stout, located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 88%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,150. The graduation rate is roughly 54%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Wisconsin-Stout? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Wisconsin-Stout is $19,265, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,490. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,966 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.

Is University of Wisconsin-Stout Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Wisconsin-Stout earn a median of $58,084, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is University of Wisconsin-Stout? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

How Research-Intensive Is University of Wisconsin-Stout? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places University of Wisconsin-Stout at #43 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 65/100, teaching at 56/100, and citation impact of 83/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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