Wausau, Wisconsin Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Wausau, Wisconsin shows: median public in-state tuition $4,889 (-11.3% vs national median) median graduate debt $7,500 (-44.2% vs U.S.) 3,314 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 3,314 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $4,889 (-11.3% vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $13,574 (+36.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $7,500 (-44.2% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,004
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Wausau, Wisconsin—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Wisconsin and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Wausau 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, Wisconsin | $4,889 | $13,574 | $7,500 | N/A | 3,314 |
| 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: Wausau, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, Wisconsin | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, Wisconsin | $4,889 | $13,574 | $7,500 | N/A | 3,314 | N/A | N/A |
| 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% |
| Appleton | $31,011 | $19,436 | $10,196 | 76.8% | 7,339 | $55,789 | 86.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
In-state tuition: Wausau, Wisconsin vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Wausau, Wisconsin median in-state tuition is $4,889, -11.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Wausau, Wisconsin vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Wausau, Wisconsin is $7,500 (-44.2% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,004.
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
Wausau, Wisconsin median public in-state tuition is $4,889, about -11.3% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is -13.1%.
Median graduate debt is $7,500 (-44.2% 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.
FAQ
How many colleges are in Wausau?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 3 campuses in Wausau, Wisconsin with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Wausau?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Wausau is $4,889 and median net price is $13,574. For Wisconsin overall, medians are $5,112 and $12,252; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Wausau?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Wausau is N/A vs $55,173 for Wisconsin and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Wausau colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Wausau is $7,500 vs $20,492 for Wisconsin and $13,432 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Wausau?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 3 College Scorecard campuses in Wausau, 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