Real Estate at Marquette University

Marquette's real estate program reports strong numbers—graduates jump from $58,000 to nearly $89,000 within four years—but there's an important catch: these figures come from fewer than 30 graduates, making them less reliable than data from larger programs. With only four schools offering real estate degrees in Wisconsin, this small sample size means a few outliers could significantly skew the results either way.

That said, the debt picture looks reasonable. At $19,500, graduates carry slightly less debt than the national median while earning above it, putting them in a manageable position even if actual earnings fall short of these reported figures. The program ranks in the 60th percentile statewide, though it trails UW-Madison's graduates by about $15,000 initially. The 87% admission rate suggests Marquette isn't highly selective, which makes the solid earnings more noteworthy—though again, with such a small cohort, individual circumstances matter more than usual.

For families considering this route, the limited data means you're making a bet on incomplete information. The fundamentals—moderate debt and competitive starting pay—suggest reasonable downside protection, but verify these outcomes by talking directly to program alumni and understanding where they actually land jobs. Real estate programs can vary wildly in their industry connections and internship pipelines, which matters more than these aggregate numbers when the sample is this small.