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University of Wisconsin-Stout — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Menomonie, WI · 5,842 students

The verdict

University of Wisconsin-Stout charges a net price of $17,490/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $69,960. Graduates earn a median $58,084 ten years after entry, $9,724/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.2 years — a 20-year net return of $124,520, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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University of Wisconsin-Stout's 7.2-year payback ranks #638 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 50% of them, and #9 of 53 in Wisconsin.

Better ROI than 50% of US colleges#638 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$17,490
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$58,084
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
7.2 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
88%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
University of Wisconsin-Stout: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$17,490/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$69,960our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$58,084Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$9,724/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$23,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback7.2 yrsour math
20-year net return$124,520our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on University of Wisconsin-Stout's own numbers. Net price $17,490 × 4 years = $69,960 total. Median earnings $58,084 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,724 a year of premium. $69,960 ÷ $9,724 = 7.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $124,520. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Stout students graduate with?

A median $23,000 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $58,084 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of University of Wisconsin-Stout students graduate?

55% finish their degree — 45% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $69,960 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $127,200 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is University of Wisconsin-Stout expensive compared with other Wisconsin colleges?

Its $17,490 net price runs $2,297 above the $15,193 median across the 53 Wisconsin colleges we profile, or $9,188 more across the full degree.

University of Wisconsin-Stout: frequently asked questions

Is University of Wisconsin-Stout worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. University of Wisconsin-Stout charges $17,490/yr after aid ($69,960 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $58,084 ten years out — $9,724/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 7.2 years and returns $124,520 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a University of Wisconsin-Stout degree take to pay off?
About 7.2 years. We divide the $69,960 four-year net cost by the $9,724/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Stout cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $17,490/yr — about $69,960 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does University of Wisconsin-Stout compare to other Wisconsin colleges?
It ranks #9 of 53 Wisconsin colleges we track by payback. Its $58,084 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $17,490 net price is above the national median of $16,902.