Cheapest Social Sciences Colleges in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's most affordable Social Sciences, General programs show a sharp divide between public and private options. University of Wisconsin-Superior leads at just $13,405 net cost, while private institutions like Edgewood College reach $25,634. The 11 programs serve students entering Wisconsin's growing healthcare and technology sectors, where companies like Epic Systems actively recruit social sciences graduates for roles in user experience research and policy analysis. Public universities dominate the affordability rankings, with six UW System schools offering net costs below $18,000. Graduation rates vary significantly, from 44% at UW-Superior to 67% at Edgewood College, reflecting different student populations and support structures across institutional types.

Programs

$13,405 – $25,634

Net Price Range

$39,381

Avg. Program Earnings

59.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

11 Social Sciences, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Wisconsin-Superior Superior, Wisconsin	$13,405	$8,487	44.1%	95.6%
2	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, Wisconsin	$13,726	$8,834	56.0%	89.1%
3	University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, Wisconsin	$14,714	$8,606	60.9%	84.5%
4	University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin	$14,754	$8,315	61.5%	85.4%
5	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, Wisconsin	$14,785	$8,250	64.3%	82.4%
6	University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, Wisconsin	$17,365	$10,142	52.5%	86.3%
7	Mount Mary University Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$18,295	$34,390	58.9%	69.5%
8	Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$21,315	$35,080	62.7%	93.8%
9	Viterbo University La Crosse, Wisconsin	$22,633	$32,350	65.2%	72.4%
10	Carthage College Kenosha, Wisconsin	$24,813	$36,500	60.5%	81.8%
11	Edgewood College Madison, Wisconsin	$25,634	$34,850	67.4%	98.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Wisconsin-Superior the cheapest option despite its low graduation rate?

UW-Superior offers the lowest net cost at $13,405 with a 95.6% acceptance rate, making it accessible to students who might struggle elsewhere. The 44.1% graduation rate reflects its open-access mission and the challenges many first-generation college students face in completing degrees.

How do private college costs compare to public universities for social sciences programs?

Private colleges cost $18,295 to $25,634 compared to public universities ranging from $13,405 to $17,365. Mount Mary University at $18,295 represents the most affordable private option, while UW-Stout at $17,365 is the most expensive public choice.

Does higher cost correlate with better graduation rates in Wisconsin social sciences programs?

Edgewood College has both the highest cost at $25,634 and graduation rate at 67.4%, while UW-Superior has the lowest cost and graduation rate. However, UW-Whitewater breaks this pattern with a 64.3% graduation rate at just $14,785 net cost.

Where do social sciences graduates earn the most after completing Wisconsin programs?

UW-Platteville graduates earn $41,193 annually, the highest among programs with available data, despite having a moderate net cost of $14,754. UW-Stevens Point graduates earn $37,568, showing that public universities can deliver strong career outcomes at affordable prices.

More Social Sciences, General Rankings

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.