Madison, WI · Private University
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$73,792
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$11,205
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$40,603
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$162,412
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.82x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
4.2 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
89.3%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$20,484
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$16,928
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates earn $28,792 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison ranked by graduate earnings
47 graduates
82 graduates
265 graduates
94 graduates
84 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at University of Wisconsin-Madison
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At University of Wisconsin-Madison, the gap between the highest-earning major (Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods: $103,437) and the lowest (Neurobiology and Neurosciences: $31,687) is $71,750/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBest ROI | $103,437 | 2.5x |
| Real Estate | $100,995 | 2.5x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $97,595 | 2.4x |
| Insurance | $96,327 | 2.4x |
| Industrial Engineering | $95,113 | 2.3x |
| International Business | $94,010 | 2.3x |
| Chemical Engineering | $92,813 | 2.3x |
| Engineering Mechanics | $86,480 | 2.1x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $86,244 | 2.1x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,231 | 2.1x |
| Marketing | $83,360 | 2.0x |
| Mathematics | $83,357 | 2.0x |
| Materials Engineering | $82,939 | 2.0x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $81,952 | 2.0x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $80,756 | 2.0x |
| Civil Engineering | $80,265 | 2.0x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $78,931 | 1.9x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $76,003 | 1.9x |
| Management Information Systems and Services(1yr data) | $73,506 | 1.8x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $73,330 | 1.8x |
| Agricultural Engineering | $72,632 | 1.8x |
| Physics | $69,988 | 1.7x |
| Economics | $69,594 | 1.7x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $67,483 | 1.7x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $66,254 | 1.6x |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $64,857 | 1.6x |
| Statistics(1yr data) | $64,684 | 1.6x |
| Chemistry | $62,892 | 1.6x |
| Agricultural Public Services | $59,522 | 1.5x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $58,500 | 1.4x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $57,775 | 1.4x |
| Political Science and Government | $56,465 | 1.4x |
| Biology, General | $56,314 | 1.4x |
| Journalism | $56,265 | 1.4x |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $55,568 | 1.4x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $54,549 | 1.3x |
| History | $54,182 | 1.3x |
| Genetics | $54,177 | 1.3x |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $54,150 | 1.3x |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $53,748 | 1.3x |
| Sociology | $52,892 | 1.3x |
| Nutrition Sciences | $52,882 | 1.3x |
| Psychology, General | $52,087 | 1.3x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $52,001 | 1.3x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $51,862 | 1.3x |
| International/Global Studies | $51,478 | 1.3x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,226 | 1.2x |
| Geography and Cartography | $49,762 | 1.2x |
| Animal Sciences | $48,199 | 1.2x |
| Special Education and Teaching | $47,683 | 1.2x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $47,090 | 1.2x |
| Apparel and Textiles | $46,673 | 1.1x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $46,193 | 1.1x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $46,149 | 1.1x |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics(1yr data) | $45,783 | 1.1x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $45,721 | 1.1x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,157 | 1.1x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $42,682 | 1.1x |
| Philosophy | $42,622 | 1.1x |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $40,827 | 1.0x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $39,953 | 1.0x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $39,875 | 1.0x |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology(1yr data) | $36,790 | 0.9x |
| Neurobiology and NeurosciencesLowest(1yr data) | $31,687 | 0.8x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 1.82x | $73,792 | Good ROI |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 2.35x | $81,054 | Strong ROI |
| Purdue University-Main Campus | 2.52x | $72,424 | Strong ROI |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 1.57x | $60,409 | Good ROI |
| University of Maryland-College Park | 2.06x | $82,860 | Strong ROI |
| Binghamton University | 2.74x | $80,596 | Strong ROI |
The Bottom Line
University of Wisconsin-Madison offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $73,792 10 years after starting — $28,792 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 4.2 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.