Agricultural Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
67
Optimistic
66
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,746/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (45% exposed)
Job Market Medium (18,700 openings/yr)
ROI 15.8x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 of 21 Agricultural Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Agricultural Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $723K $707K $630K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.1x 15.8x 14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.4x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 68% 51%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 66 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,820
Out-of-state: $162,412 (4.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,712
-51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,970
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,773
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Wisconsin-Madison's Agricultural Engineering program produces graduates earning $67,746/yr — within striking distance of the $64,972 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Agricultural Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Agricultural Engineering's typical career paths, with 45% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,970 in median debt clears quickly against $67,746 in annual earnings.

At #7 of 21 Agricultural Engineering programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $78,773 are relatively flat compared to the $67,746 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison's 43% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 35,665 in Madison, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Madison →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
Agricultural engineers $84,630/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Agricultural Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Agricultural Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
A score of 66/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Agricultural Engineering field.
Will AI replace Agricultural Engineering careers?
With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $629,717 in decade earnings vs $723,320 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →