Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of Wisconsin, Madison is a public national university located in Madison, Wisconsin. UW Madison is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at UW Madison is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $65,213 10 years after enrolling, 3rd in Wisconsin, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, UW Madison bachelor students earn 11% more than the national average. UW Madison is ranked 1st in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin, Madison’s median net annual cost of $17,234 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at UW Madison sorted by number of graduates - Computer and Information Sciences, Economics, Finance, Biology, Psychology, Poli Sci/Government - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$17,234
Average years to graduate
4.6
Marketing
Rank: #7
Economic score: 1.24
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #59
Economic score: 1.3
Mathematics
Rank: #28
Economic score: 1.44
Registered Nursing
Rank: #189
Economic score: 1.83
General Marketing Ops
Rank: #11
Economic score: 2.65
Journalism
Rank: #18
Economic score: 3.09
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Rank: #26
Economic score: 3.48
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #172
Economic score: 4.46
Human Development & Family
Rank: #21
Economic score: 4.66
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Rank: #58
Economic score: 24.03
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at UW Madison - Social Work, Library Science, Accounting, Educ. Administration, Public Health, Business and Commerce - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #11
Economic score: 0.23
Real Estate
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.32
Engineering
Rank: #61
Economic score: 0.33
Public Policy Analysis
Rank: #3
Economic score: 0.38
Clinical / Counseling Psych
Rank: #34
Economic score: 0.54
Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment
Rank: #17
Economic score: 0.59
Curriculum and Instruction
Rank: #97
Economic score: 0.64
Therapeutic professions
Rank: #48
Economic score: 0.67
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #146
Economic score: 0.84
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #16
Economic score: 0.86
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 88% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at UW Madison is 29% higher than the state average, and 20% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At UW Madison, Pell Grant recipients represent 15% of the measured graduating class, 20% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at UW Madison graduates within 4.7 years.
UW Madison is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of Wisconsin, Madison’s economic mobility score of 14.35 is calculated by adjusting the 0.55 economic score of lower-income students by the 15% pell grant recipients within the student body. UW Madison’s EMS of 14.35 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at University of Wisconsin, Madison pays $17,234 a year, $9,924 less than the $27,158 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $17,234
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At UW Madison, 54% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $17,234 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 27% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $8,800. This is 27% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,175
Pell grants
$4,761
State grants
$2,644
Institutional grants
$12,734
University of Wisconsin, Madison offers 6 online bachelor programs, one of which is held exclusively online. At the master’s level UW Madison offers 10 programs, 3 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
16
Hybrid programs
12
Percentage of programs online
6%
University of Wisconsin, Madison's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 60% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 53,781 applicants, of which 32,459 were admitted and 8,465 enrolled. UW Madison doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
98%
83%
Female
53%
59%
First time
82%
59%
In-state
52%
68%
1st generation
17%
35%
White
68%
52%
Black
2%
14%
Hispanic
6%
15%
Asian
8%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
16%
12%