ROI Major

Accounting and Related Services at University of Wisconsin - Platteville

WI · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 52.03

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Accounting and Related Services degree from University of Wisconsin - Platteville earn a median salary of $66,937 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in WI, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $70,386. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.6 years.

Quick Insights

Solid Investment

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$56,544

Typical Career

$66,937

Top Performers

$82,551

Estimated break-even: 6.6 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$446

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,578. Most students can comfortably afford about a $446 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Wisconsin buys what costs $0.95 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Manufacturing 21.2%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 13.1%
Educational Services 13.0%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$70,386

Nominal: $66,937 in Wisconsin (COL 95.1% of national avg) · 5.2% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

6.6 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $40,604 $50,676 $62,920
5 Years After Graduation $56,544 $66,937 $82,551
10 Years After Graduation $66,172 $88,155 $114,734

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $66,937 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in WI, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $66,937 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9510) = $70,386 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

The earnings trajectory for graduates in Accounting and Related Services at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville shows a steady increase over time. With median earnings of $50,676 one year after graduation, this figure rises to $66,937 after five years, and reaches $88,155 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equivalent is approximately $70,385.91, indicating that graduates can expect a competitive salary relative to national standards, particularly given Wisconsin's lower cost of living index (0.951).

Graduates typically enter various sectors, with significant representation in Manufacturing (21.2%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (13.1%), and Educational Services (13.0%). The estimated break-even point for pursuing a degree versus a high-school-only path is around 6.6 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for those who complete their degree. Overall, the data indicates that pursuing a degree in Accounting and Related Services can lead to substantial long-term financial benefits and career opportunities in diverse industries.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Accounting and Related Services degree at University of Wisconsin - Platteville stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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