Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

UW-Milwaukee's liberal arts certificate stands out nationally—graduates earn $40,717 in their first year, crushing the national median of $27,024 and landing in the 95th percentile. That's impressive until you look at Wisconsin specifically: this program sits right at the state median, meaning it's performing exactly average among the 13 Wisconsin schools offering similar credentials. The real concern isn't the earnings—it's the $29,333 in debt, which is three times higher than the national median for this type of certificate. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 remains manageable, you're essentially paying premium prices for middle-of-the-pack performance within your own state.

The moderate growth to $43,040 after four years suggests stable but unspectacular career progression. For context, this is a certificate program at a school with an 88% admission rate, yet it's generating debt levels more typical of a bachelor's degree. If your child is considering this program, ask why they need UW-Milwaukee's more expensive certificate when other Wisconsin schools deliver similar earnings outcomes. The strong national ranking is somewhat misleading—it reflects how low earnings are for liberal arts certificates everywhere, not necessarily exceptional value from this particular program.