{"id":13482,"date":"2026-03-23T09:30:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/?post_type=campus_story&#038;p=13482"},"modified":"2026-03-23T09:30:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:30:36","slug":"uw-stouts-packaging-program-ranks-among-top-10-in-national-listings-for-its-polytechnic-approach","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/uw-stouts-packaging-program-ranks-among-top-10-in-national-listings-for-its-polytechnic-approach\/","title":{"rendered":"UW-Stout\u2019s packaging program ranks among top 10 in national listings for its polytechnic approach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"776\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging2.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of UW-Stout packaging program student\" class=\"wp-image-13483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging2.jpg 776w, https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging2-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging2-768x427.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 776px) 100vw, 776px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Applied learning, strong industry partnerships benefit students, create clear career pathways<br><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>UW-Stout\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/programs\/bs-packaging\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">B.S. packaging program<\/a>&nbsp;has been recognized by three national ranking authorities in their annual listings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.collegeraptor.com\/Majors\/Details\/15.1503\/Level\/Bachelors-degree\/State\/All\/Packaging-Science\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">College Raptor<\/a>: No. 3 for 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.universities.com\/programs\/packaging-science-degrees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Universities.com<\/a>: No. 9 for 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.collegefactual.com\/majors\/engineering-technologies\/engineering-related-fields\/packaging-science\/rankings\/top-ranked\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">College Factual<\/a>: No. 5 for 2025<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are honored to be recognized as one of the top packaging programs in the nation,\u201d said&nbsp;<strong>Associate Professor Min DeGruson<\/strong>, program director. \u201cUW-Stout\u2019s distinction comes from our polytechnic approach of hands-on, applied learning, our deep and long-standing industry partnerships and our strong career focus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DeGruson said students with an interest in design, engineering, problem-solving and sustainability can find wonderful careers in the packaging field. In the end, every product needs a package \u2014 meaning every industry needs packaging engineers, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UW-Stout packaging graduates achieve&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/liveuwstout.sharepoint.com\/sites\/2022\/Career-Services\/Documents\/Forms\/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2F2022%2FCareer%2DServices%2FDocuments%2FAnnual%20Employment%20Reports%2F2023%2D2024%2DFirst%2DDestination%2DReport%2Epdf&amp;parent=%2Fsites%2F2022%2FCareer%2DServices%2FDocuments%2FAnnual%20Employment%20Reports&amp;p=true&amp;ga=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">100% job placement<\/a>&nbsp;with an average starting salary of $70,000. Located near the Twin Cities and Wisconsin\u2019s Fox Valley, two major hubs for packaging innovation, UW-Stout offers unparalleled access to packaging suppliers and career opportunities across the food, consumer products and medical device industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent employers of graduates include 3M, Bosch, Boston Scientific, General Mills, Great Northern Corporation, Kimberly Clark, Medtronic, Milwaukee Tool, Post Consumer Brands, Sartori Cheese, Target and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"773\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of UW-Stout packaging program students\" class=\"wp-image-13484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging.jpg 773w, https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/03\/STO_packaging-768x427.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>UW-Stout\u2019s award-winning&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/academics\/career-services\/cooperative-education-internship-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cooperative Education &amp; Internship Program<\/a>&nbsp;helps students connect with placement opportunities to gain additional career-readiness skills before graduation. More than a third of students accept positions after graduation with their internship employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students begin working in five dedicated packaging labs in their first semester, spending more than half of their coursework engaged in lab-based testing, materials research, prototyping, and design verification alongside faculty and peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith our dedicated labs, a rich program history, and a highly engaged alumni network, our students benefit from exceptional industry support and clear career pathways. These strengths are reflected in our outcomes,\u201d DeGruson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cross-disciplinary research and projects are another highlight of education at UW-Stout, as well as the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/great-northern-sees-students-bring-cosmetics-packaging-design-ideas-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Great Northern Corp. Collaboration Experience course<\/a>, in which students design packaging for a Great Northern client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPackaging students work alongside students from the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/programs\/bs-graphic-communications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">graphic communications<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/programs\/bfa-graphic-design-and-interactive-media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">graphic design and interactive media<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/programs\/bfa-industrial-design\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">industrial and product design<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/programs\/bs-video-production\">video production<\/a>&nbsp;programs,\u201d&nbsp;<strong>Associate Professor Kate Liu<\/strong>&nbsp;said. \u201cWe offer students multiple development paths to maximize their potential for success, including design, management, sustainability, business, medical packaging, food packaging, quality control, manufacturing, sales and supply chain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The program\u2019s dedicated faculty, including three professors and an adjunct professor with diverse expertise, ensures students are well-prepared for their careers. \u201cWe have excellent instructors and small class sizes that allow students to develop key skills for success,\u201d added&nbsp;<strong>Provost Glendal\u00ed Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to her faculty role, DeGruson is chair of the Food Packaging Division under the Institute of Food Technologists and is an Executive Committee member of Kilmer Innovation in Packaging. Liu recently worked with Madison-based&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.notsotrickyfoods.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tricky Foods<\/a>&nbsp;to identify sustainable insulation options to safely&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/cool-solution-faculty-student-research-will-help-madison-company-ship-charcuterie-cheese-boards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ship charcuterie and cheese boards<\/a>&nbsp;coast to coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students have the opportunity to join the&nbsp;Stout Packaging Association. They also participate in and are frequently awarded for their designs at national and international student competitions, including the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/total-package-students-earn-two-firsts-third-international-sustainability-challenges\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Paperboard Packaging Alliance<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/international-molded-fiber-association-awards-uw-stout-students-first-place-sustainable-packaging\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;International Molded Fiber Association<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/three-teams-named-national-competition-winners-receive-real-world-experiences-sustainable-packaging\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flexible Packaging Association<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/packaging-and-video-production-students-win-big-48-hour-national-industry-competition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">48HR REPACK<\/a>, created by the&nbsp;Institute of Packaging Professionals. A team of students even won a competition sponsored by Kellanova, a division of Kellogg\u2019s, and the Packaging Association of Canada, for their redesign of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/uncanny-results-students-win-international-challenge-imagine-new-packaging-pringles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">iconic Pringles packaging<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UW-Stout is the only school among the Universities of Wisconsin that offers a bachelor\u2019s in packaging.&nbsp;Schools that ranked first and second in each list are Michigan State University and Clemson University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UW-Stout also offers a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/programs\/sustainability-minor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">minor in sustainability<\/a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/programs\/bs-plastics-engineering\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">B.S. plastics engineering<\/a>, in which faculty and students research how the plastics industry can be more sustainable, including by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/evco-donation-boosts-sustainability-research-plastics-engineering-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">using more recycled materials<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Written by Abbey Goers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Link to original story: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/uw-stouts-packaging-program-ranks-among-top-10-national-listings-its-polytechnic-approach\">https:\/\/www.uwstout.edu\/about-us\/news-center\/uw-stouts-packaging-program-ranks-among-top-10-national-listings-its-polytechnic-approach<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Applied learning, strong industry partnerships benefit students, create clear career pathways UW-Stout\u2019s&nbsp;B.S. packaging program&nbsp;has been recognized by three national ranking authorities in their annual listings: \u201cWe are honored to be recognized as one of the top packaging programs in the nation,\u201d said&nbsp;Associate Professor Min DeGruson, program director. \u201cUW-Stout\u2019s distinction comes from our polytechnic approach of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":13483,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[90],"story_category":[148],"class_list":["post-13482","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-stout","story_category-economy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/13482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13482"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=13482"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=13482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}