University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin · Public · 45.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 91/100 · Exceptional Value
University of Wisconsin-Madison scores 91 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by an 89.6% completion rate, $49,600 median 6-year earnings, a 5.4-year payback period, and a repayment rate of 87.8%. In-state tuition is $11,603 and net price averages $17,354. The program breadth is exceptional: 56 programs listed in the Scorecard, spanning engineering, business, sciences, social sciences, arts, and agriculture. Engineering programs dominate the top of the earnings distribution -- Computer Engineering graduates reach $120,068 at year four; CS reaches $119,655 at year four (864 graduates); Finance reaches $107,207 at year four (521 graduates). International Business earns an A grade ($66,591 year one, $106,783 year four, debt-to-earnings 0.210). The breadth creates meaningful program-level variance: Communication Disorders Sciences earns an F grade (debt-to-earnings 1.769, year-one earnings $14,668); Genetics (CIP 2607) earns an F (debt-to-earnings 1.041). Students choosing science-track programs that lead to graduate school depress year-one earnings significantly. The overall score of 91 is well-justified for students entering STEM, business, or engineering; it is less applicable for students entering underfunded humanities or pre-professional science paths with low near-term earnings.
University of Wisconsin-Madison scores in the top 10% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,603/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $42,103/yr |
| Average net price | $17,354/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $69,416 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $73,792 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $49,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,484 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 89.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 36,902 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $11,603/year ($42,103/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $17,354/year, or roughly $69,416 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $4,200/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,292/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $20,484 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $217 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $73,792 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.41 - well within manageable territory.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $4,200 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,101 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,134 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,763 |
| $110,001+ | $27,292 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $4,200 per year and the 30001-48000 bracket pays $4,101 -- among the lowest net prices for a flagship public university in this dataset. Against $49,600 median 6-year earnings and a 5.4-year payback period, the financial case for low-income in-state students is exceptional. The 89.6% completion rate further reduces completion risk. This is one of the strongest combinations of affordability and outcomes for any public university in this batch.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $8,134 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $17,763. The step up to $17,763 at the upper-middle bracket is significant but still defensible against the earnings profile. At $17,763 annual net price and $49,600 median 6-year earnings, the payback math is clean. Middle-income in-state students face a very favorable cost-to-earnings equation.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $27,292 per year -- about $109,168 over four years for in-state students. This is a strong value even at full expected net cost. Out-of-state students paying $42,103 tuition face a total cost closer to $168k-$185k all-in, at which point the analysis becomes program-specific: engineering and business graduates have fast paybacks; humanities and social science graduates less so.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $119,655 | B+ |
| Psychology | $58,901 | C |
| Economics | $85,366 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $107,207 | B+ |
| Biology | $69,005 | C |
| International Relations | $66,148 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $61,270 | C |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $58,824 | C |
| Marketing | $96,148 | B+ |
| Mathematics | $101,438 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is UW-Madison's highest-volume high-earning program: 864 graduates, $80,566 year one, $119,655 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.279 (B+ grade) and median debt of $22,500. The scale of this program is a differentiator -- 864 graduates per cohort reflects a major CS pipeline into industry. Wisconsin CS graduates enter software engineering, data science, and tech consulting roles nationally. The four-year trajectory to $119k is a strong long-run return on in-state net cost.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (521 graduates) earns $68,681 year one and $107,207 at year four, with a B+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.313, median debt $21,500). Volume and earnings make this one of the most productive business programs in the public flagship tier. UW-Madison's business school (Wisconsin School of Business) is highly regarded and places graduates into major financial firms and consulting. The four-year figure of $107k reflects the combination of career progression and brand premium.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering (102 graduates) earns $85,945 year one and $101,676 at year four, with a B+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.255, median debt $21,947). Year-one earnings are among the highest for any engineering program in this batch. UW-Madison's chemical engineering program connects to pharma, agricultural chemicals, and petroleum processing industries. The debt load is manageable against the starting salary.
Real Estate
Real Estate (169 graduates) earns $73,239 year one and $120,483 at year four -- the highest four-year earnings of any business-track program in this dataset. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.280 (B+ grade) and median debt of $20,500. UW-Madison has one of the few dedicated real estate programs among public flagships, and its placement into commercial real estate and finance is exceptional. The four-year figure of $120k rivals CS and engineering outcomes.
Economics
Economics (587 graduates) earns $54,495 year one and $85,366 at year four, with a B grade (debt-to-earnings 0.381, median debt $20,750). This is a large program with strong but not exceptional near-term earnings. The four-year climb to $85k reflects graduate school and finance/consulting placement. At in-state net cost, economics is a solid ROI choice with clear career paths into business, policy, and law.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 87.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 45.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 710-780 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 670-740 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-33 |
| Enrollment | 36,902 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $15,643 |
At 45.2%, Madison is selective but not hyper-selective among flagship public universities. SAT 710-780 Math and 670-740 Reading places it in the same tier as many strong publics. ACT 29-33 composite. Out-of-state students face higher effective selectivity given the tuition differential ($42,103 vs. $11,603 in-state). In-state students with strong quantitative preparation and above-average GPAs are competitive.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, California State University-Long Beach, and University of Maryland-College Park. Among meaningful comparables, UW-Madison's ROI of 91 is below UIUC (typically scoring in the 90s) but above CSU Long Beach on earnings premium. The flagship peer comparison is more instructive: UW-Madison's 5.4-year payback and 89.6% completion rate compare favorably with Michigan (typically higher earnings), Minnesota (comparable), and Ohio State (comparable on most metrics). UW-Madison's low in-state net cost ($4,200 for low-income students) is a persistent competitive advantage.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison (this school) | 91 | $17,354 | $73,792 |
| University of Maryland-College Park | 94 | $15,678 | $82,860 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 93 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
| California State University-Long Beach | 86 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
Who Thrives Here
UW-Madison admits 45.2% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 710-780 Math and 670-740 Reading; ACT 29-33. Enrollment of 36,902 makes it a large research university with a commensurately large program footprint. Pell grant rate of 15.9% is low, reflecting the predominantly middle-to-upper-income student population at this competitive public flagship. Madison's location provides a vibrant college town environment and connections to state government, agriculture, biotech, and finance employers. Students should have a clear program direction given the competitive admissions into top-tier majors like CS, engineering, and business at this institution.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the strongest financial investments in higher education. With a total 4-year net cost of $69,416 and median graduate earnings of $73,792 ten years out, the math works decisively in graduates' favor. The estimated payback period of 5.4 years is well below average.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 89.5% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $20,484 is very manageable against $73,792 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.