University of Wisconsin-Parkside is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It enrolls 2,844 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes22
Value87
Affordability72
Selectivity38
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 75.4%, University of Wisconsin-Parkside is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
75.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 25
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Wisconsin-Parkside is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Wisconsin-Parkside isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,772 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,772
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
36%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,270
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,429
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,750
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,750
Books & Supplies
$1,404
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,194
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,194
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,199
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,425
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,592
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,241
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,071
Over $110,000
$17,917
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,89010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$20,492Medianpercentile
$25,67575%percentile
$37,26190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,102
↓ $5,390
No Pell $11,386
↓ $9,106
Dependent students $12,750
↓ $7,742
Independent students $18,577
↓ $1,915
Female students $13,750
↓ $6,742
Male students $14,513
↓ $5,979
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,751, less than completers ($20,492), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
40% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Parkside graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
40%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Wisconsin-Parkside earn a median of $51,129 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,129
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,500, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
23.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Wisconsin-Parkside is home to 2,844 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,844
Part-Time
19%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.0%1,648
Hispanic 21.3%607
Black 8.9%253
Other 5.8%164
Asian 3.0%85
International 2.0%56
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeKenosha, Wisconsin
Housing
Partly residential850 beds available
Adult Learners
17%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Wisconsin-Parkside offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
50 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-Parkside is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,108
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$14M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$74,462
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
148 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
23
16%
$94,153
Associate Professors
58
39%
$76,949
Assistant Professors
38
26%
$77,088
Instructors
1
1%
$30,225
Lecturers
27
18%
$52,336
No Rank
1
1%
$56,031
Pros & Cons of University of Wisconsin-Parkside
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Wisconsin-Parkside tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Wisconsin-Parkside is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Is University of Wisconsin-Parkside hard to get into?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 75.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Parkside?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside has an acceptance rate of 75.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Wisconsin-Parkside?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Wisconsin-Parkside scored between 17 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Parkside cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Wisconsin-Parkside is $11,772 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Wisconsin-Parkside worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,129 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,772 per year. That's roughly 4.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Wisconsin-Parkside known for?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Wisconsin-Parkside graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Wisconsin-Parkside are $51,129, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Wisconsin-Parkside accredited?
Yes. University of Wisconsin-Parkside is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of Wisconsin-Parkside?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside enrolls 2,844 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Parkside?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside graduates 40% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Wisconsin-Parkside a public or private college?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside is a Public institution.
Where is University of Wisconsin-Parkside located?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
What programs does University of Wisconsin-Parkside offer?
University of Wisconsin-Parkside offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-Parkside?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-Parkside is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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