Appleton, Wisconsin Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Appleton, Wisconsin shows: median public in-state tuition $31,011 (+462.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $55,789 (+2.7% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 86.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $10,196 (-24.1% vs U.S.) 7,339 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 4 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 7,339 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $31,011 (+462.6% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $55,789 (+2.7% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 86.1% (-1.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,436 (+95.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $10,196 (-24.1% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 76.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 86.6%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Appleton, Wisconsin—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Wisconsin and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Appleton vs Wisconsin & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, Wisconsin | $31,011 | $19,436 | $10,196 | 76.8% | 7,339 |
| Wisconsin (state median) | $5,112 | $12,252 | $20,492 | 55.6% | 228,156 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Appleton, Wisconsin vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, Wisconsin | $55,789 | 86.1% | 86.6% | 1.9% | — | 82.4% | 0.47 |
| Wisconsin (state median) | $55,173 | 94.1% | 76.2% | 3.3% | — | 81.1% | 0.43 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Wisconsin (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, Wisconsin | $31,011 | $19,436 | $10,196 | 76.8% | 7,339 | $55,789 | 86.1% |
| Madison | $12,526 | $20,938 | $14,060 | 44.6% | 50,859 | $66,760 | 94.2% |
| Milwaukee | $35,765 | $22,453 | $23,470 | 63.6% | 43,045 | $54,827 | 92.7% |
| La Crosse | $10,070 | $16,210 | $22,500 | 69.7% | 13,709 | $58,019 | 96.1% |
| Eau Claire | $7,243 | $16,550 | $16,170 | 63.8% | 13,227 | $58,561 | 95.7% |
| Green Bay | $8,700 | $13,369 | $18,000 | 56.7% | 12,536 | $64,375 | 95.6% |
| Kenosha | $10,860 | $23,066 | $20,492 | 64.3% | 11,087 | $51,129 | 91.2% |
| Wausau | $4,889 | $13,574 | $7,500 | N/A | 3,314 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 76.8%, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Top 10 colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 86.1%, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 63.9%, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Top 10 colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $71,338, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Top 10 colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,653, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Top 10 colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $48,065, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Top 10 colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,789, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Top 10 colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $117,978, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $23,401, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Top 10 colleges in Appleton, Wisconsin by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 86.6%, Lawrence University
Lawrence University
In-state tuition: Appleton, Wisconsin vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Appleton, Wisconsin median in-state tuition is $31,011, +462.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Appleton, Wisconsin vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Appleton, Wisconsin is $10,196 (-24.1% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Appleton, Wisconsin vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Appleton, Wisconsin center around $55,789 (+2.7% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Appleton, Wisconsin vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 86.1% at the median Appleton, Wisconsin campus (-1.8 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Appleton, Wisconsin median public in-state tuition is $31,011, about +462.6% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +451.3%.
Median graduate debt is $10,196 (-24.1% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Appleton, Wisconsin are $55,789, about +2.7% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 86.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-1.8 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 86.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 1.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 82.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Lawrence University (86.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Appleton, Wisconsin is 76.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Appleton?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 4 campuses in Appleton, Wisconsin with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Appleton?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Appleton is $31,011 and median net price is $19,436. For Wisconsin overall, medians are $5,112 and $12,252; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Appleton?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Appleton is $55,789 vs $55,173 for Wisconsin and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Appleton colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Appleton is $10,196 vs $20,492 for Wisconsin and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Appleton?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Lawrence University (graduation) and Lawrence University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Appleton?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 4 College Scorecard campuses in Appleton, Wisconsin, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Wisconsin college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON