Rankings / By State
Best Communications Colleges in Wisconsin
- 15
- Schools
- $57,487
- Avg. Earnings
- 63%
- Avg. Graduation
- $19,545
- Avg. Net Price
- $22,809
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 15 schools run from $45,593 to $78,257, a 1.7× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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University of Wisconsin-Parkside delivers the most for the money: roughly $51,129 in median earnings against $11,772 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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University of Wisconsin-Parkside is the lowest-cost school here at $11,772 a year in net price.
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University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates 89% of its students, versus a 63% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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University of Wisconsin-Madison carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.28× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- University of Wisconsin-Parkside costs $11,772 a year and Marquette University costs $31,487. Yet their graduates earn $51,129 and $78,257, nowhere near the $19,715 price gap.
- On value, University of Wisconsin-Parkside beats Marquette University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
- Graduation rates split the field: University of Wisconsin-Madison finishes 89% of students while University of Wisconsin-Parkside finishes 40%. Same ranking, very different odds of leaving with a degree.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with University of Wisconsin-Parkside and University of Wisconsin-Madison. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Business is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $55K within a decade, and pr specialist roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Marquette University #1 overall | $78,257 ▲ +36% vs avg | $31,487 | 82% | 73 |
| 2 University of Wisconsin-Madison #2 overall | $73,792 ▲ +28% vs avg | $17,354 | 89% | 70 |
| 3 Beloit College #3 overall | $53,260 ▼ -7% vs avg | $21,526 | 69% | 69 |
| $58,363 ▲ +2% vs avg | $26,172 | 72% | 69 | |
| $45,593 ▼ -21% vs avg | $26,005 | 65% | 68 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Communications Colleges in Wisconsin
This analysis ranks 15 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $57,487 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 63% and an average net price of $19,545.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: University of Wisconsin-Parkside — Net Price: $11,772 | Graduation Rate: 40%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Wisconsin-Madison — 89% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Marquette University — Median alumni earnings: $78,257
CollegeRanker Primary Research
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Humanities & Creative Fields Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the value of a humanities and creative education?
$55,356
Median earnings (10yr)
62%
Median graduation rate
$17,354
Median net price
1.0%
Avg. mobility rate
Arts, communications, and humanities programs draw perpetual skepticism about their payoff. Early earnings do start lower, and the path is less linear. The core skills compound, though. Writing, judgment, persuasion, and creative problem-solving gain value over a career, and they are the abilities automation has been slowest to replicate.
The median graduation rate across these 15 schools is 62%. Median graduate earnings reach $55,356 ten years after enrollment, roughly $7,356 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $17,354 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $23,000. Some 25% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.0%.
What we’re seeing: outcomes in these fields vary widely, and affordability matters most precisely where early earnings start slow. Median earnings of $55,356 ten years after enrollment against a $17,354 net price show why low cost is the lever that turns a humanities degree into a clear win.
The podium
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Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Marquette University lands at #1 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $78,257 a decade after enrolling, 36% above this list's average, and net price runs $31,487 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
University of Wisconsin-Madison lands at #2 with a 70/100 composite, led by academic quality (86/100) and pulled down by social mobility (58/100). Graduates earn a median $73,792 a decade after enrolling, 28% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,354 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Beloit College lands at #3 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $53,260 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,526 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Saint Norbert College lands at #4 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $58,363 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,172 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Maranatha Baptist University lands at #5 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $45,593 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,005 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Ripon College lands at #6 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $54,902 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,216 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Edgewood University lands at #7 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $59,728 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,113 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Carthage College lands at #8 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (35/100). Graduates earn a median $56,950 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,565 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater lands at #9 with a 64/100 composite, led by academic quality (71/100) and pulled down by social mobility (58/100). Graduates earn a median $55,356 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,158 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh lands at #10 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (69/100) and pulled down by social mobility (57/100). Graduates earn a median $55,548 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,305 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse lands at #11 with a 63/100 composite, led by academic quality (71/100) and pulled down by social mobility (57/100). Graduates earn a median $60,378 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,210 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
River Falls, WI · 82% accepted · $14,054 net
Why it ranks #12
University of Wisconsin-River Falls lands at #12 with a 63/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (67/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $54,458 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,054 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
University of Wisconsin-Superior lands at #13 with a 60/100 composite, led by value per dollar (65/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $49,606 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,220 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
University of Wisconsin-Parkside lands at #14 with a 60/100 composite, led by value per dollar (70/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $51,129 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,772 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee lands at #15 with a 59/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (66/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $54,990 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,014 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 15 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become PR Specialists and related roles — a field with $67,440 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the PR Specialist career guide →When considering a degree in communications, Wisconsin offers a range of colleges that excel in preparing students for this dynamic field. With an average earnings potential of $56,901 for graduates, it’s clear that these programs can make a significant impact on a student’s future. We’re looking at schools that not only teach the fundamentals of communications but also deliver strong outcomes post-graduation.
The best communications colleges in Wisconsin stand out based on key metrics like graduation rates, earnings, and debt levels. For instance, the University of Wisconsin-Madison boasts an impressive graduation rate of 89% and average earnings of $73,792, while the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has a lower graduation rate of 51% and earnings of $55,548. This data helps prospective students weigh their options, balancing the strengths of each program against financial considerations.
Take the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Marquette University, for example. Madison graduates earn an average of $73,792, while graduates from Marquette earn slightly more at $78,257, but they also face a higher average net price of $31,487 compared to Madison’s $17,354. This contrast highlights the trade-offs students must consider when choosing a program that fits both their career goals and financial situation.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 7 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Ripon College leads the group at 1.5%, with Edgewood University (1.2%) and Marquette University (1.1%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 4.4% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Maranatha Baptist University enrolls the most, at 8.2%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 26.4% across the list, peaking at 41.6% at Marquette University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Edgewood University is highest at 1.77.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
For those exploring communications programs in Wisconsin, the data reveals interesting patterns. The University of Wisconsin-Madison outperforms University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh significantly with an earnings potential of $73,792 compared to Oshkosh’s $55,548, despite both schools being relatively accessible financially. This shows that not all programs yield the same return on investment.
As you sift through the options, consider how each school aligns with your personal priorities. Look beyond the numbers: think about location, campus culture, and the specific communications focus. What environment will help you thrive? Weigh financial factors alongside your career aspirations to find the right balance.
Ultimately, the data on these communications programs highlights the importance of making informed choices. A degree can pave the way for a stable career, but it often requires careful consideration of both costs and potential earnings. One informed decision can set a family on a path to success, illustrating how critical it is to weigh all available options thoughtfully.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Communications Colleges in Wisconsin: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Communications Colleges in Wisconsin ranking? +
Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Communications Colleges in Wisconsin ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $78,257 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 82% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Marquette University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $78,257 ten years after enrollment, well above the $57,487 average across the 15 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, University of Wisconsin-Parkside leads: graduates earn a median $51,129 against net price of about $11,772 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of Wisconsin-Madison has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 89%, compared with a 63% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $19,545 a year across the 15 ranked schools with cost data. University of Wisconsin-Parkside is among the most affordable at roughly $11,772. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Communications Colleges in Wisconsin ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 15 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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