ROI Major

Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods at University of Wisconsin - Platteville

WI · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 13.12

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods degree from University of Wisconsin - Platteville earn a median salary of $50,008 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in WI, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $52,585. The degree typically pays for itself in 12.9 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$42,013

Typical Career

$50,008

Top Performers

$56,550

Estimated break-even: 12.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$333

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,167. Most students can comfortably afford about a $333 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Wisconsin buys what costs $0.95 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Manufacturing 21.2%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 13.1%
Educational Services 13.0%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$52,585

Nominal: $50,008 in Wisconsin (COL 95.1% of national avg) · 5.2% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

12.9 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $25,739 $34,732 $46,126
5 Years After Graduation $42,013 $50,008 $56,550
10 Years After Graduation $49,112 $58,161 $67,080

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $50,008 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in WI, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $50,008 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9510) = $52,585 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods program at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville experience a steady earnings trajectory. One year after graduation, the median earnings stand at $34,732, increasing to $50,008 by the five-year mark, and reaching $58,161 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equivalent nationally is approximately $52,584.65, indicating that while initial earnings may be modest, there is potential for growth over time, particularly in a state with a cost of living index of 0.951 compared to the national average.

The top industries for graduates include Manufacturing (21.2%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (13.1%), and Educational Services (13.0%). This diverse range of sectors suggests that graduates have various career paths available beyond traditional teaching roles. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 12.9 years, indicating a longer return on investment for those pursuing this degree. Overall, while the initial financial outlook may appear limited, the potential for increased earnings and diverse career opportunities can provide a favorable long-term return on investment.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods degree at University of Wisconsin - Platteville stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

Explore More