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Colleges / WI / Superior
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University of Wisconsin-Superior

#5 Best Education Colleges in Wisconsin
Public Superior, WI · Suburban · Great Lakes · 100% data
B Value B- Earnings B- Affordability
43%
D+
Graduation Rate
Lower completion rate than most colleges
$49,606
B-
Earnings (10yr)
Well above the typical college graduate
$12,220
B-
Net Price
29% less than the typical college
93%
D
Acceptance Rate
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +22% vs avg
Graduation -25% vs avg
Net Price +-29% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 25.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $25.0 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Education Colleges in Wisconsin.

25.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $25.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,170,793.

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What The Data Says

1

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

2

Earnings 22% above the national college median.

3

Graduation of 43% — 25% below the national average.

4

Every $1 invested returns $25.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why University of Wisconsin-Superior Matters

University of Wisconsin-Superior is a public university in Superior, WI 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
1,807
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Education, Business & Marketing, Psychology, English & Literature

Why students choose University of Wisconsin-Superior

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Education
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C
Top 47% overall
B-
Earnings
$49,606 median
B
Value
4.1× net price
B-
Affordability
$12,220/yr net
D+
Graduation
43% graduate
D
Selectivity
93% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.39 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

At the University of Wisconsin-Superior, students find a welcoming environment that emphasizes personalized education with an acceptance rate of 93%. This institution is a good fit for those seeking a strong foundation in fields like Education, Business & Marketing, Psychology, English & Literature, and Communications. It's a place where small class sizes allow for more interaction with professors and peers, fostering a supportive learning community.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $49,606 within ten years, which reflects a solid return on their investment. Considering the affordability of education here, with a net price of $12,220, many graduates find themselves in a good position to manage their finances. While the graduation rate stands at 43%, those who do complete their degrees can move into the workforce with a reasonable debt load, averaging $22,500.

In practical terms, the financial outlook for students at UW-Superior is manageable, especially for those who take advantage of financial aid options. With 31% of students receiving Pell Grants, affordability does play a role in access to education. This school tends to attract students who value community, are looking for a chance to engage deeply in their studies, and appreciate the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with faculty and fellow students.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Wisconsin-Superior 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-Superior? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Superior, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Superior keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 93% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 43%.

Acceptance Rate 93%
Retention Rate 72%
SAT Average 1090
ACT Midpoint 21
ACT Range 18–24
Full-Time Faculty 85%
Faculty Salary (mo) $7,266
Student–Faculty Ratio 17:1
Diversity Index 0.39
First-Gen Students 30%
Applicants 2,319
Admitted 2,217
2

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-Superior? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending University of Wisconsin-Superior, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $16,726 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $12,220 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,679 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $22,500.

$8,812
In-State Tuition
$16,726
Out-of-State
$12,220
Avg Net Price
$22,500
Median Debt
31%
Pell Grant Rate
43%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$9,679
Family Income $0–$30K
$10,178
Family Income $30K–$48K
$9,710
Family Income $48K–$75K
$17,859
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

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

Ten years out, alumni of University of Wisconsin-Superior earn a median of $49,606, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$41,868
6 Years After Entry
$45,689
8 Years
$49,606
10 Years
0.45x
Debt-to-Earnings
63%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$41,868 6yr $45,689 8yr $49,606 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

29%
100% (96)
29%
100% (96)
29%
100% (96)
29%
100% (96)

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation43%Earnings 10yr$50KNet Price$12KRetention72%Median Debt$23KPell Grant Rate31%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$10K$0-30K$10K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$18K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Wisconsin-Superior Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, University of Wisconsin-Superior delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,220/year ($48,880 total). Graduates earn $49,606 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,219,673 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,170,793 (25.0× your investment). The median debt is $22,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 43% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$48,880
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,219,673
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,170,793
Net Return
25.0×
ROI Multiple
$12,220
Cost Per Year
$22,500
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
43%
Graduation Rate
4

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-Superior? 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-Superior, with an economic connectedness score of 1.57 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.57
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.03
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
7.6%
Volunteering Rate
0.99
Support Ratio
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).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
$4,927,696
Federal Grants
$-180,248
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields University of Wisconsin-Superior 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-Superior? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

Based in Superior, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Superior keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 93% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 43%.

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

When weighing the true cost of attending University of Wisconsin-Superior, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $16,726 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $12,220 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,679 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $22,500.

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

Ten years out, alumni of University of Wisconsin-Superior earn a median of $49,606, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

How Connected Is University of Wisconsin-Superior? 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-Superior, with an economic connectedness score of 1.57 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Wisconsin-Superior.

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

The 2026 Annual Report

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.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys