Public Administration at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

UW-Whitewater's Public Administration program produces results that slightly edge out the Wisconsin median, though you're working with limited data here—the small sample size means a few exceptional graduates could skew these figures either way. At the 60th percentile among Wisconsin programs, graduates earn about $600 more than the typical in-state PA graduate, with first-year earnings of $44,951 climbing to $54,579 by year four. That's solid 21% growth and puts graduates roughly on par with national standards.

The debt picture is reasonable rather than remarkable. At $27,187, it's higher than both state and national medians for this major, but the 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe about seven months of their first-year salary—manageable territory for public sector work. The program costs more than La Crosse's ($43,632 earners), though the earnings gap narrows over time.

For a student committed to government or nonprofit work in Wisconsin, this program offers a middle-of-the-pack option at an accessible school. Just remember that these numbers reflect fewer than 30 graduates, so your child's experience could vary significantly. If they're choosing between UW schools, the financial differences are marginal enough that factors like location, campus culture, and specific faculty expertise should drive the decision.