Real Estate at University of Wisconsin-Stout

UW-Stout's real estate program lands right at the national middle—graduates earn $54,061 their first year against $21,220 in debt, nearly identical to what typical real estate grads across the country face. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 is manageable, meaning graduates carry less than five months' salary in loans. However, within Wisconsin, this program underperforms: it ranks in just the 40th percentile statewide, earning about $4,000 less annually than the state median. UW-Madison's program produces graduates earning $19,000 more right out of the gate.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—warrants caution. A couple of outlier career paths could swing these numbers significantly, making them less reliable than data from larger programs. Still, the consistent placement below Wisconsin's median suggests this isn't just statistical noise.

For families prioritizing affordability and access (note the 85% admission rate), the debt level is reasonable and the earnings cover typical loan payments comfortably. But if your student can gain admission to UW-Madison or compete for higher-tier programs, the earnings gap could translate to $75,000+ in additional income over the first four years alone—far exceeding any difference in upfront costs.