Computer and Information Sciences at University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Computer science programs across Wisconsin typically produce first-year earnings around $68,700, which is where UW-River Falls' estimated outcomes land—respectable, but notably below what larger UW campuses achieve. UW-Madison graduates start at over $80,500, and even smaller schools like UW-Eau Claire and Lakeland University report outcomes in the low-$70,000s. The estimated $25,000 debt burden matches both state and national medians for computer science degrees, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 that most graduates could handle within a few years.

The real question is whether River Falls can match these peer program estimates given its profile. With an 82% admission rate and average SAT scores around 1120, it's a more accessible institution than the flagship UW campuses that report stronger outcomes. Computer science is one of those fields where employer demand is strong enough that the school name matters less than your skills, but the $10,000-12,000 gap compared to other UW system schools suggests either different job placement patterns or different student career paths worth investigating directly with the department.

If your child is already in-state and the full cost stays near that $25,000 debt estimate, this looks like a reasonable path into a high-demand field. But before committing, contact the computer science department for their actual placement data—where graduates work, what positions they take, and whether these estimated earnings reflect their recent experience.