Best colleges for Economics in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $57,663, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University award the most Economics degrees in Wisconsin: 821, 41 and 27 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 Wisconsin colleges offer Economics and award 1,040 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,663 | 26 | 46% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,495 | 821 | 90% | — | $20,750 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,595 | 20 | 71% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,404 | 21 | 59% | — | $21,698 |
| 5 | Marquette University Milwaukee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,400 | 27 | 83% | $25,376 | $23,718 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,327 | 41 | 49% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Saint Norbert College De Pere Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $53,350 | 10 | 71% | $23,319 | $27,000 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $51,344 | 15 | 64% | — | $21,500 |
| 9 | Carthage College Kenosha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,493 | 7 | 64% | $22,844 | $19,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Wisconsin
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public | 821 | $54,495 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public | 41 | $44,327 |
| 3 | Marquette University Milwaukee Private not-for-profit | 27 | $46,400 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public | 26 | $57,663 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public | 21 | $46,404 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse Public | 20 | $53,595 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public | 15 | $51,344 |
| 9 | Lawrence University Appleton Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
| 10 | Saint Norbert College De Pere Private not-for-profit | 10 | $53,350 |
ShowHide the other 7 Wisconsin colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beloit College | Beloit | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | River Falls | Public | 5 |
| Ripon College | Ripon | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Kenosha | Public | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | Superior | Public | 2 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | Green Bay | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Wisconsin
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Wisconsin.
Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
University of Wisconsin-Madison (821 graduates a year), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (41 graduates a year) and Marquette University (27 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 Wisconsin colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Wisconsin?+
By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $57,663, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Madison is the largest, with 821 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh tops the list at $57,663. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in Wisconsin?+
The average annual wage for Economists in Wisconsin is $91,630 (median $84,000), across about 280 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Economics program?+
The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Economists?+
The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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