Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Stout

At under $28,000 in first-year earnings, UW-Stout's Social Sciences degree trails not just the national average by $10,000, but also lags behind Wisconsin's typical graduate by $7,000. While the 25th percentile state ranking might suggest this is just one of several lower-performing Wisconsin programs, the gap is substantial—graduates from UW-River Falls, for instance, earn over 50% more their first year out. The debt load of $24,750 matches the state median but represents nearly a full year's salary, creating a challenging financial foundation for early career years.

The concerning element here isn't the debt itself—it's typical for social sciences—but rather the low earning power it's financing. Ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally means 95% of comparable programs produce better first-year outcomes. For a family considering this path, the practical reality is that their graduate will likely need family support or multiple income sources while establishing themselves professionally, even compared to peers from other Wisconsin schools in the same field.

If social sciences is the goal, other Wisconsin public universities demonstrate that significantly better outcomes are achievable at similar debt levels. Unless UW-Stout offers specific program features or connections that justify the earnings gap, families should explore alternatives within the UW system where the same degree investment yields 35-50% higher starting salaries.