Median Earnings (1yr)
$43,149
59th percentile
Median Debt
$22,375
4% below national median

Analysis

UW-River Falls' Business Communications program outperforms both the national and Wisconsin medians, placing graduates in the 60th percentile statewide—a meaningful edge in a state with limited options for this major. Starting at $43,149 and climbing to $52,519 by year four represents solid 22% growth, suggesting graduates are building career momentum rather than plateauing early. The $22,375 debt load comes in below both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 that's manageable by any standard.

What stands out here is the value proposition relative to alternatives. With only three Wisconsin schools offering this program, River Falls delivers stronger outcomes than Marquette—a private institution where graduates actually earn less despite presumably higher tuition costs. The 82% admission rate makes this accessible to most students, and the earnings trajectory suggests the program is teaching skills employers will pay for over time.

For families seeking a practical communications degree without excessive debt, this program delivers. The combination of above-average earnings, below-average debt, and steady income growth makes River Falls a straightforward choice in Wisconsin's limited Business Communications landscape.

Where University of Wisconsin-River Falls Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/corporate communications bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Wisconsin-River Falls$43,149$52,519+22%
Bentley University$57,141$74,655+31%
National University$38,696$69,428+79%
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College$47,880$62,502+31%
Chapman University$39,901$61,840+55%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Business/Corporate Communications bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (3 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver Falls$8,606$43,149$52,519$22,3750.52
Marquette UniversityMilwaukee$48,700$39,816$24,1870.61
National Median$41,494$23,2500.56

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/corporate communications graduates

Public Relations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

$91,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Editors

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

$75,260/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Writers and Authors

Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.

$72,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

$72,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Public Relations Specialists

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

$69,780/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Proofreaders and Copy Markers

Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Wisconsin-River Falls, approximately 20% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.