The Guide to Higher Education
Plus: Salaries rise with educational level
Is a Diploma Worth It?
Salaries rise with educational level
Students and
their families make a lot of sacrifices for a higher education. There's the
cost of tuition, books and supplies, and the potential for costly student loans
that take years to pay back. There's the time and effort, too—endless studying
and unpaid internships, often while working a full- or part-time job.
The good
news, though, is that these short-term sacrifices turn into long-term gains,
especially when it comes to salaries.
A 2010 study
conducted by the College Board found that a typical worker with a bachelor's
degree will earn 66% more during their entire career than a worker with a
high-school diploma. Workers with additional degrees will earn even more.
According to
U.S. Census Bureau data, a high-school graduate will earn $1.2 million over the
course of his or her lifetime; those with a bachelor's degree, $2.1 million;
those with a master's degree, $2.5 million; Ph.D. earners, $3.4 million; and
those with a professional degree, $4.4 million in lifetime earnings.
The College
Board found that earning a college degree has other benefits. College grads
have lower rates of unemployment, have more job satisfaction, lead healthier
lifestyles, typically receive health insurance and pensions from their
employers, and are more likely to be engaged with their kids in educational
activities. In addition, governments generate more tax revenue from college
graduates and spend less on programs for them.
Still, many
people ask: Given the increase in the cost of attending college and the heavy
burden of student loans, will a diploma pay off?
Yes,
according to the College Board, which found that "by about age 33—after 11
years of work—higher earnings compensate not only for four years out of the
labor force, but also for average tuition and fee payments at a public
four-year university funded fully by student loans."
So even
though attending college is expensive, it will definitely pay off in the end.
—Stacie
Gordon
Colleges listed in
order of student population size:
Milwaukee Area
Technical College
414-297-6282
Milwaukee, Wis., with campuses in Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis
Institution Type: technical college, two-year associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 50,000
Student-Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Cost Per Year: $3,840-$4,992
Cost Per Credit: $120-$156
Online Classes: hundreds available
Specialties: business, health, liberal arts and sciences,
pre-college, technical and applied sciences, media and creative arts, advanced
technical certificates
University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
414-229-1122
Milwaukee, Wis.
Institution Type: public doctoral research university
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 30,455
Student-Faculty Ratio: 21:1
Cost Per Year: $8,151 (tuition and fees for Wisconsin residents)
Cost Per Credit: $287 (Wisconsin residents)
Online Classes: some available
Specialties: architecture and urban planning, fine arts,
freshwater sciences, nursing and health sciences, engineering, business, and
liberal arts; specialist and doctoral degrees
Marquette
University
414-288-7250
Milwaukee, Wis.
Institution Type: Catholic and Jesuit private college, doctoral research university
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 11,806
Student-Faculty Ratio: 14.5:1
Cost Per Year: $31,040 (undergraduate)
Online Classes: some available
Specialties: arts and sciences, business administration,
communication, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, law and dental
Concordia University
Wisconsin
262-243-5700
Mequon, Wis.
Institution type: four-year private
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Student-Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Number of Students: 7,500
Cost Per Year: $30,460 (room and board); $22,150 (without room and board)
Online Classes: available
Specialties: 61 undergraduate
majors, seven adult education majors, physical therapy, nursing, pharmacy
Cardinal Stritch
414-410-4000
Milwaukee, Wis.
Institution Type: four-year, private, Catholic Franciscan university
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 6,894
Student-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Cost Per Year: $22,240 (traditional undergraduate programs)
Online Classes: many available
Specialties: business, education, initial teaching
certification, leadership, nursing, sport management, fine arts; associate,
bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certification/licensure programs
Herzing University
1-800-596-0724
Milwaukee, Wis., with campuses in Brookfield, Kenosha and Madison [also online]
Institution Type: private university, offering three-year bachelor degrees
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 4,122
Student-Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Cost Per Year: $9,300 (two semesters; includes books and fees)
Cost Per Credit: $385-$805 (includes books and fees)
Online Classes: many available
Specialties: technology, business, health care (including
nursing), design, public safety; master's, bachelor's, associate degrees and
diplomas
Lakeland College
1-800-569-2166
Sheboygan, Wis., with adult education centers in Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Fox Cities, Wisconsin Rapids and Chippewa Falls
Institution Type: private
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 4,000
Student-Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Cost Per Credit: $355 (undergraduate), $420 (graduate), $440 (graduate-MBA)
Online Classes: many available
Specialties: accounting,
education, resort management, criminal justice, business management, computer
science, health care management; graduate-MBA, master of arts in counseling,
master of education
Carroll University
262-547-1211
Waukesha, Wis.
Institution Type: four-year private
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 3,403
Student-Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Cost Per Year: $23,582 (undergraduate)
Cost Per Credit: $298 (undergraduate), $345 (nursing or undergraduate online)
Online Classes: some available
Specialties: health sciences, nursing, education, music
education, physical therapy, nonprofit management, e-commerce
Alverno College
414-382-6100
Milwaukee, Wis.
Institution Type: private women's college
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 2,759
Student-Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Cost Per Year: $19,560 (undergraduate) $21,600 (nursing)
Cost Per Credit: $815 (undergraduate)
Online Classes: none available
Specialties: business, nursing, special education, community
psychology, arts and science, technology, liberal arts; bachelor, master and
associate degrees
Marian University
920-923-7600
Fond du Lac, Wis., West Allis, Wis.
Institution Type: private
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 2,800 (undergraduate and graduate)
Student-Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Cost Per Year: $22,090 (undergraduate)
Cost Per Credit: $330 (undergraduate), $330-$500 (graduate)
Online Classes: some available
Specialties: nursing, health care administration, sport and
recreation management, radiologic technology, forensic science, homeland
security; Ph.D. in educational leadership, master in education technology
Milwaukee School of Engineering
414-277-6763
Milwaukee, Wis.
Institution Type: private
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 2,600
Student-Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Cost Per Year: $29,520 (full-time undergraduate)
Cost Per Credit: $513 (undergraduate), $621 (graduate)
Online Classes: none available
Specialties: engineering, information technology, business
management, nursing
Carthage College
262-551-6000
Kenosha, Wis.
Institution Type: four-year private liberal arts and sciences
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 2,500 (full-time undergraduate)
Student-Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Cost Per Year: $29,750
Online Classes: none available
Specialties: business, education, natural sciences, fine arts;
paralegal certificates and M.Ed. degrees
Bryant &
Stratton College
414-276-5200
Locations in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and at Bayshore Town Center
Institution Type: private
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Number of Students: 2,300
Student-Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Cost Per Year: $6,228-$7,785 (full-time student per term)
Cost Per Credit: $519
Online Classes: some available
Specialties: health care, nursing, criminal justice, business,
financial services, technology, paralegal
Mount Mary College
414-258-4810
1-800-321-6265
Milwaukee, Wis.
Institution Type: Catholic, liberal arts women's college (with graduate programs open to men)
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 1,963 (graduate and undergraduate)
Student-Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Cost Per Year: $21,668 (undergraduate)
Cost Per Credit: $648 (undergraduate)
Online Classes: some available
Specialties: undergraduate art and design, art therapy,
business, dietetics, education, English, fashion, interior design, occupational
therapy, art therapy, counseling
Wisconsin Lutheran
College
414-443-8800
Milwaukee, Wis.
Institution Type: four-year private college
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Number of Students: 840
Student-Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Cost Per Year: $21,960 (tuition and fees)
Cost Per Credit: $640
Online Classes: some available
Specialties: urban education, Christian leadership, nursing
Medical College of
Wisconsin
414-456-8296
Milwaukee, Wis.
Institution Type: private
Accreditation: Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
Number of Students: 820 (medical); 450 (undergraduate)
Student-Faculty Ratio: 1:1.35
Cost Per Year: $54,711 (tuition and fees)
Online Classes: some graduate school certificate programs available
Specialties: medical; M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. degrees; also hosts
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Milwaukee Institute
of Art & Design
1-888-749-6423
Milwaukee, Wis.
Institution Type: four-year private, nonprofit
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Association of Schools of Art & Design
Number of Students: 690
Student-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Cost Per Year: $25,900
Cost Per Credit: $865
Online Classes: none available
Specialties: communication design, industrial design,
illustration, interior architecture and design, photography, video and
animation, drawing, sculpture, painting, printmaking, integrated studio arts
DeVry University –
Wisconsin
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