Wisconsin

Average student debt in Wisconsin — 22 colleges, and what their graduates earn

Every Wisconsin university with published federal figures, ordered by how fast the debt clears. The typical graded US university clears its debt in 1.3 years on median earnings of $57,146 against $22,500 of debt.

#UniversityGradeYou borrowMonthlyYou earnDebt clears in
1 Milwaukee School of Engineering Wisconsin A $27,000 $307 $89,070 0.5 yrs
2 University of Wisconsin–Madison Wisconsin B $20,484 $233 $73,792 0.6 yrs
3 Marquette University Wisconsin B $23,940 $272 $78,257 0.6 yrs
4 University of Wisconsin - Platteville Wisconsin C $21,977 $250 $61,760 1 yrs
5 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Wisconsin C $20,909 $238 $58,561 1.1 yrs
6 University of Wisconsin - Stout Wisconsin C $23,000 $262 $58,084 1.2 yrs
7 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Wisconsin C $21,500 $244 $55,548 1.3 yrs
8 University of Wisconsin - River Falls Wisconsin C $20,500 $233 $54,458 1.4 yrs
9 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Wisconsin C $18,500 $210 $52,528 1.4 yrs
10 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Wisconsin C $23,188 $264 $55,356 1.5 yrs
11 Carthage College Wisconsin C $26,000 $296 $56,950 1.5 yrs
12 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Wisconsin C $23,000 $262 $54,990 1.5 yrs
13 Lawrence University Wisconsin C $26,000 $296 $55,789 1.6 yrs
14 Wisconsin Lutheran College Wisconsin D $26,000 $296 $54,664 1.7 yrs
15 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Wisconsin D $21,503 $244 $52,021 1.7 yrs
16 Ripon College Wisconsin D $27,000 $307 $54,902 1.8 yrs
17 University of Wisconsin–Parkside Wisconsin D $20,492 $233 $51,129 1.8 yrs
18 Marian University Wisconsin D $25,000 $284 $53,501 1.8 yrs
19 Beloit College Wisconsin D $25,738 $293 $53,260 1.9 yrs
20 Alverno College Wisconsin D $27,000 $307 $53,145 2 yrs
21 University of Wisconsin - Superior Wisconsin D $22,500 $256 $49,606 2.2 yrs
22 Madison Area Technical College Wisconsin D $14,060 $160 $45,413 2.4 yrs

In-state tuition is the lever that moves this most

The debt column is shaped far more by residency and institutional aid than by anything else. If you are applying from another state or another country, the figures here understate what you would borrow — check the university's own net price for your situation.

Read the salary next to the debt, never alone

Two universities in this state with identical graduate salaries can be two grades apart, because one leaves students owing twice as much. The payback column is the one that combines both.

Questions

Which university in Wisconsin pays back fastest?
Milwaukee School of Engineering — $89,070 median earnings against $27,000 of debt, clearing in about 0.5 years.
How much do US students typically borrow?
Across the 810 universities we grade, median debt at graduation is $22,500 — about $256 a month on the standard ten-year federal plan.
Can scholarships change these numbers?
Directly. Every award comes off the borrowing before you ever repay it, which shortens the payback on each university page. Each page lists the scholarships we hold for that institution.
All payback rankings Fastest payback Lowest debt Highest earnings Scholarships that cut the debt How we calculate this

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures cover students who received federal financial aid and blend every subject at each institution. Information only, not financial advice.