Urban Studies/Affairs at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Similar Urban Studies programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $40,000, which sits right at the national median for this field. The estimated $23,000 debt load is typical for UW-Green Bay graduates across programs, resulting in a 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio—manageable, but not exceptional. Urban planning and community development roles often start modestly, with advancement tied to experience and additional credentials, so parents should understand they're investing in a field where the early financial return is steady rather than robust.

The challenge here is that Wisconsin only has three programs in this field, and none report detailed outcomes publicly, making it difficult to assess how UW-Green Bay specifically prepares graduates compared to peer institutions in the state. The school's 88% admission rate and accessible profile suggest it serves students well as a regional option, but without school-specific data, you're essentially betting that this program performs comparably to the national average. For students drawn to urban policy, housing, or municipal work, that's not necessarily problematic—these are real careers with genuine demand—but the financial trajectory is incremental.

The practical takeaway: if your child is passionate about cities and community development, this appears to be a reasonable path with debt that won't overwhelm early earnings. Just recognize you're working with educated guesses rather than track records, and consider whether complementary skills—GIS, data analysis, or specific policy expertise—might strengthen their position in a competitive field.