Management Information Systems and Services at Lakeland University

MIS programs across Wisconsin show considerable variation, with first-year earnings ranging from roughly $55,000 to over $73,000. Drawing from the state median of similar programs, Lakeland's estimated $61,477 in first-year earnings sits right in the middle of this pack—ahead of UW-Milwaukee but trailing the flagship and several regional campuses. The estimated debt load of $26,581 is slightly higher than both the state and national medians for this degree, though the resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 remains manageable by most standards.

What peer programs suggest is that MIS graduates generally find stable technical work after graduation, and the numbers here support that trajectory. A debt burden equivalent to less than half a year's salary is workable for most graduates, particularly in a field where skills tend to remain marketable and advancement opportunities exist. The gap between Lakeland's estimated outcomes and top-performing UW System campuses like Madison or La Crosse isn't trivial—roughly $6,000 to $12,000 in first-year earnings—but it's also not insurmountable if location, class size, or program fit matter to your student.

The practical takeaway: this appears to be a reasonable path into tech-focused business roles, though the estimates suggest outcomes closer to the middle of Wisconsin's MIS landscape rather than the top. If your child has admission options at higher-performing programs, the earnings difference may justify pursuing those alternatives.