Marketing at University of Wisconsin-Parkside

UW-Parkside's marketing graduates start at $40,916—about $6,000 below the state median and in just the 40th percentile among Wisconsin programs. That's a significant gap when the state's flagship in Madison pays graduates 59% more and even regional competitors like UW-Oshkosh and UW-Eau Claire deliver starting salaries above $51,000. While the 17% earnings growth to nearly $48,000 by year four shows reasonable progression, graduates still remain behind where many peers start.

The silver lining is debt: at $20,900, it's roughly $5,000 below the state median and creates a manageable 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio. For families prioritizing affordability—particularly given the school's 34% Pell grant population—this lighter debt load matters. A graduate could realistically pay this off within a few years while building their career.

The value calculation here depends entirely on alternatives. If your child has admission offers from UW-Eau Claire or UW-Oshkosh with similar financial aid packages, the $10,000+ salary advantage at those schools likely justifies any modest difference in cost. But if UW-Parkside offers substantially better aid or proximity is important for your family, the lower debt makes it workable—just understand you're accepting below-average market positioning in exchange for affordability.