Behind every data point in Wisconsin’s economic success story is a person, a college graduate applying knowledge, building a career, and strengthening their community. Across the state, alumni of Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges are doing exactly that by fueling industries, advancing innovation, and shaping Wisconsin’s future.

The numbers are compelling. More than 236,000 alumni from Wisconsin’s private colleges live and work in the state, generating an estimated $41 billion in economic activity each year. These graduates are critical to Wisconsin’s workforce, filling high-demand roles in health care, education, business, technology, and beyond.

Their impact is deeply personal. And powerfully local.

Zachary Earll ’21, a Viterbo University graduate, is returning to Onalaska in 2026 to practice dentistry.

After graduating from Viterbo University with a major in biochemistry and a minor in business administration, Zachary Earll ’21 continued his education at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. In May 2026, he will return home to Onalaska to practice dentistry, helping meet Wisconsin’s growing need for skilled health care professionals. His journey reflects a broader pattern, that of graduates gaining advanced skills and bringing them back to serving Wisconsin communities.

Beloit College alumna Katherine Johnson ’19 is advancing patient care in Wisconsin as a family nurse practitioner.

Katherine Johnson, a Beloit College alumna from the Class of 2019, is already making a difference in Wisconsin’s health care landscape as a family nurse practitioner specializing in allergy, asthma, and immunology. Working in a private outpatient clinic, she focuses on treating allergies in young children. “It is very rewarding to see my patients’ symptoms become managed and their quality of life improve,” Katherine shares, which is an impact felt far beyond the exam room.

Dr. Liz Gross (Marquette ’09; Cardinal Stritch University ’15) is shaping the future of higher education as a nationally recognized leader and founder of Campus Sonar.

For others, the influence of a Wisconsin private college education extends into leadership and innovation. When Dr. Liz Gross (master’s degree, Marquette ’09) (PhD, Cardinal Stritch University ’15) enrolled in Marquette University’s Educational Policy and Leadership master’s program while working full time, she found the flexibility and rigor she needed. She also found a transformative experience that shaped her career. Today, she is a nationally recognized thought leader and founder of Campus Sonar, a Wisconsin-based agency that helps colleges and universities harness data-driven insights to better understand their audiences.

Cameron Teske ’11 has turned professional success into meaningful community impact, founding the Remember to Live Foundation to support families facing late-stage breast cancer.

And for alumni like Cameron Teske ’11, the path leads to both professional achievement and deeply meaningful community impact. After earning degrees from Wisconsin Lutheran College and building a successful career in destination marketing, helping lead initiatives like the Discover Green Bay rebrand and the effort to bring the 2025 NFL Draft to the region, he went on to found the Remember to Live Foundation. Created in honor of his late wife, the nonprofit supports families facing late-stage breast cancer, turning personal loss into lasting purpose and community support.

These stories illustrate what the data alone cannot. Wisconsin’s private colleges are educating students and cultivating leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Each year, our twenty WAICU member institutions award more than 12,300 degrees, equipping graduates to make a lasting impact across Wisconsin.