Economic Development

Research and public service funding expenditures

Research expenditures are for activities funded from all sources that are specifically organized to produce research outcomes, including individual and/or project research as well as those of institutes and research centers. Public service expenditures include activities established primarily to provide noninstructional services beneficial to individuals and groups external to the university. Values are not adjusted for inflation. Beginning in fiscal year 2020, university totals include the former UW Extension and UW Colleges. (Due to an IPEDS decision to exclude costs incurred under the UW-Colleges and UW-Extension administrative entities from their survey structure, associated research and public service funding are not reflected in fiscal year 20189 totals.) Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Note: beginning in fiscal year 2010, operation and maintenance expenses were distributed among other expenses and no longer reported as a separate category.

Degrees in STEM and health fields

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Health fields are defined using the following Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) 2020 areas: Agricultural Sciences (01.0308, 01.80, 01.09, 01.10, 01.11, 01.12), Natural Resources and Conservation (03), Computer Science and Info Systems (11), Engineering (14), Engineering Technology (15), Life/Biological Science (26), Mathematics and Statistics (27), Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (30.01, 30.19, 30.27, 30.30, 30.70, 30.71), Kinesiology (31.0505), Physical Science (40), Science Technologies (41.9999), and Health (51).

UW STEM and health degrees are offered at the bachelor’s and graduate/professional levels. UW-Platteville did not confer degrees in health programs prior to 2021-22. UW Colleges did not offer a STEM or health degree, but provided the foundation for students interested in STEM or health majors through a certificate program and areas of emphasis in STEM or health-related fields. UW and national proportions are based on bachelor’s and graduate/professional level degrees. National proportions are based on public four-year institutions. Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

Projected employment in STEM and health occupations is available from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (OBE) Activity

This dashboard represents activity reported by Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (OBE) programs across the Universities of Wisconsin, including the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC), Strategic Projects, and the Food Finance Institute (FFI). Data are reported by the administering unit or UW university for each fiscal year. Data reflect total program activity; businesses served by multiple OBE programs are counted within each respective program’s annual totals.

At the end of fiscal year 2018, the Wisconsin Business AnswerLine (BAL) specialty center transferred from UW–Madison to the SBDC Lead Center within UW Administration.  The Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (WISC) operates in collaboration with UW–Whitewater’s local SBDC.  Contracted business support services provided by UW Extension through fiscal year 2018 are included within UW Administration. In January 2016, service to southwestern Wisconsin transferred from UW–Platteville to the SBDC Lead Center.

While UW–Stout does not host a local SBDC, data through 2016 reflect activity from its Center for Innovation and Development (CID) specialty center. UW–Stout’s primary business engagement is conducted through Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement and the Discovery Center; this activity is not shown.

Effective fiscal year 2026, the SBDC at UW–Parkside consolidated with UW–Milwaukee. Data prior to this date reflect the centers separately, while subsequent activity for the Kenosha/Racine area is reported through UW–Milwaukee.

UW bachelor’s degree recipients by address in 2021

UW bachelor’s degree recipients are shown by their current addresses, provided by UW universities and their alumni associations. Included are alumni who graduated 2009-10 and more recently and who have an address with a U.S. zip code. Field of study is the academic program area of the alumnus’ bachelor’s degree. Residency status reflects the fee basis when enrolled as a student.

UW bachelor’s degree recipients living in Wisconsin in 2021

The percent of UW bachelor’s degree recipients living in Wisconsin is based on current addresses provided by UW universities and their alumni associations. Denominators include graduates with international or unknown addresses. Field of study is the academic program area of the alumnus’ bachelor’s degree. Residency status reflects the fee basis when enrolled as a student.

UW bachelor’s degree recipients living in Wisconsin three years after graduation

The percent of UW bachelor’s degree recipients living in Wisconsin is shown for graduates in 2011-12 by address in 2015, graduates in 2014-15 by address in 2018, and graduates in 2017-18 by address in 2021. Addresses were provided by UW universities and their alumni associations. Denominators include graduates with international or unknown addresses. Field of study is the academic program area of the alumnus’ bachelor’s degree. Residency status reflects the fee basis when enrolled as a student.

Career outcomes of undergraduates

UW universities collect information on initial career outcomes of undergraduates following standards and protocols of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE): https://www.naceweb.org/job-market/graduate-outcomes/first-destination/standards-and-protocols.

Earnings for UW Bachelor’s Degree Recipients

The Universities of Wisconsin and the U.S. Census Bureau have partnered to track the median annual earnings of UW graduates that completed their bachelor’s degree anywhere from 2001-2021. Graduate earnings are identified through the U.S. Census Bureau’s national jobs database that covers 96 percent of all employment in the United States. Data corresponds to the 2024Q4 release. For more information visit http://lehd.ces.census.gov/data/pseo_documentation.html