Best College ROI in Wi 2026
40 colleges in Wi analyzed for return on investment. University of Wisconsin-Stout leads with a ROI Score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY).
Wi has 40 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 14 public institutions and 26 private ones. Across the 40 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $84K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Wi colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at University of Wisconsin-Stout (median $95K on Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications). The lowest median debt comes from University of Wisconsin-Platteville at $20K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Wi
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Wi's ROI rankings on its Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $21K in median debt.
Lawrence University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Mathematics. Five-year median earnings: $126K.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $20K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Wi
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Stout(public) | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $21K | $95K | A (97) |
| 2 | Lawrence University(private) | Mathematics | $20K | $78K | A (96) |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 9 | Wisconsin Lutheran College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 10 | Beloit College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | Carroll University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | Carthage College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 13 | Edgewood College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | Marquette University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 15 | Milwaukee School of Engineering(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 16 | Ripon College(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 17 | Saint Norbert College(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-Madison(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee(public) | Information Science/Studies | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
College debt and earnings data for Wi is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
University of Wisconsin-Stout has the best ROI in Wi with a score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $21K in median debt.
Across 40 Wi colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $84K.
University of Wisconsin-Stout graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Wi has 40 colleges in our database (14 public, 26 private). Of the 40 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).