Criminology at University of Wisconsin-Stout

UW-Stout's criminology graduates earn substantially more than most programs nationally—$49,004 puts them ahead of 95% of similar bachelor's programs. That's nearly $12,000 above the national median and well above the top quartile threshold. The debt load of $27,000 is also below typical, resulting in a manageable 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio. For an open-access institution (85% admission rate), these are impressive outcomes.

The Wisconsin context matters here. While these earnings top the national charts, they land in the 60th percentile among Wisconsin's five criminology programs—solidly middle-of-the-pack in a state where this degree generally pays well. Still, UW-Stout beats Marquette's outcomes by over $13,000 annually despite Marquette's higher tuition and more selective admissions. The debt figure is essentially average for Wisconsin programs.

For parents, this represents a straightforward value proposition: strong earnings potential with reasonable debt at an affordable public institution. The first-year salary should allow graduates to manage their loans comfortably while building their careers. If your child is considering criminology and Wisconsin residency makes UW-Stout accessible, the combination of cost and outcomes makes this a solid choice—even if a couple of Wisconsin schools edge slightly higher in earnings.