Business Administration and Management at University of Wisconsin - Stout
WI · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 52.02
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Business Administration and Management degree from University of Wisconsin - Stout earn a median salary of $69,162 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in WI, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $72,726. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$52,478
Typical Career
$69,162
Top Performers
$90,286
Estimated break-even: 6.4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$461
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,764. Most students can comfortably afford about a $461 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.8x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x 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, Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$72,726
Nominal: $69,162 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).
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 | $38,421 | $51,338 | $67,055 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $52,478 | $69,162 | $90,286 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $60,693 | $82,939 | $115,243 |
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 $69,162 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)
= $69,162 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9510)
= $72,726 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Manufacturing (18.9%), Educational Services (14.6%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (10.2%), indicating a diverse range of career opportunities. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 6.4 years, suggesting that the investment in a college education can yield a favorable return on investment over time. Overall, pursuing a degree in Business Administration and Management at UW-Stout appears to be a sound decision for students looking to enhance their career prospects and earning potential.
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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.