Cost of college in Wisconsin
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Wisconsin averages $10,102 a year, or $15,711 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $61,274 and owe about $21,463. The net price pays back in about 3.2 years.
How Wisconsin compares to the US
Wisconsin ranks #26 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #13 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #10 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Wisconsin | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $10,102 | $9,518 | +$584 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $26,003 | $23,652 | +$2,351 |
| Net price after aid | $15,711 | $13,788 | +$1,923 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $61,274 | $56,427 | +$4,847 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,463 | $17,856 | +$3,607 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Wisconsin pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Wisconsin costs about $62,844 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.2 years from the roughly $19,474-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #10 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Wisconsin list about $39,813 in tuition and net out to about $25,247 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Wisconsin?
At a public 4-year college in Wisconsin, in-state tuition and fees average about $10,102 a year and out-of-state runs about $26,003. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $15,711. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Wisconsin earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Wisconsin's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $61,274 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $21,463 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Wisconsin?
A public 4-year degree in Wisconsin costs about $62,844 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.2 years from the roughly $19,474-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.