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

When similar liberal arts programs in Wisconsin produce first-year earnings around $43,700 against $29,000 in debt, the math works better than you might expect for this type of degree. That 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio falls comfortably below the warning threshold, and the estimated earnings actually exceed the national median for these programs by about $7,400—suggesting Wisconsin's job market treats general humanities graduates more favorably than many states do.

The challenge is that these are statewide estimates, not outcomes specific to UW-Platteville. Within Wisconsin's system, schools with reported data for liberal arts show a $10,000+ spread, from the mid-$40s down to the low $40s. UW-Platteville's 87% admission rate and modest test scores suggest it may fall toward the middle or lower end of that range, meaning actual outcomes could differ from the state median used here.

For parents, this translates to acceptable financial risk if—and this is crucial—your student has clear plans for applying a liberal arts degree. The debt level won't be crushing, but the estimated earnings won't provide much cushion either. Before committing, ask the school directly about their graduates' actual outcomes and employment patterns. The DOE's data suppression here means you're flying with limited visibility, making direct conversations with career services and recent alumni essential rather than optional.