University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin · Public · 45.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 91/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
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 first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,603/year ($42,103/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $17,354/year, or roughly $69,416 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $4,200/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,292/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $20,484 in federal loans, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $73,792 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.41, comfortably manageable.
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 our dataset.
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 our dataset. 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
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-Madison’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
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 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Wisconsin-Madison side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
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
If you're asking whether University of Wisconsin-Madison is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $69,416 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $73,792 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 5.4 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 89.5% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $20,484 owed against $73,792 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
University of Wisconsin-Madison: Common Questions
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Wisconsin-Madison pays off. It scores 91/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $17,354 a year after aid ($69,416 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,792 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.4 years to earn back.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Madison cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $17,354 a year, or roughly $69,416 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $73,792 ten years after enrolling, roughly $31,992 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Wisconsin-Madison?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.4 years for University of Wisconsin-Madison. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $20,484, against $73,792 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
The six-year graduation rate is 89.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.