Apparel and Textiles at University of Wisconsin-Stout

UW-Stout's apparel program sits in an unusual position: its graduates earn slightly below the national median but actually outperform the limited Wisconsin market, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. What really stands out is the debt picture—at $26,248, graduates carry less than many peers nationally (20th percentile for debt), creating a manageable 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio. For context, the $35,768 starting salary trails national figures by about $1,200, but surprisingly exceeds what graduates from UW-Madison's more selective program earn by roughly $2,700.

That said, the small sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, a handful of outliers could be skewing these numbers in either direction. The apparel industry also notoriously pays entry-level workers modestly—even the top programs nationally only hit around $40,000—so families should understand they're looking at a career path that typically requires patience to build earnings.

The real question is whether your student has clear post-graduation plans in fashion merchandising, product development, or textile technology. If they're passionate about this field, the relatively controlled debt load gives them room to take internships or entry positions without crushing loan pressure. But if they're uncertain about the industry, that $35,000 starting point leaves little margin for career exploration.