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Animal Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,354/yr (31% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Large (99,000 openings/yr)

ROI 12.0x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #5 of 81 Animal Sciences programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Animal Sciences graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$542K	$537K	$497K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.1x	12.0x	11.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.3x	3.3x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	42%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	51	46

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 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$67,712

-51% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$57,024

29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,354 put University of Wisconsin-Madison's Animal Sciences program 31% above the national median of $33,901 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Animal Sciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Animal Sciences's typical career paths, with 42% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $44,354 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #5 of 81 programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison's Animal Sciences program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $44,354 to $57,024 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

A 43% admission rate makes University of Wisconsin-Madison accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 35,665 in Madison, WI.

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

Top Career Paths

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers $87,980/yr

Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary $86,350/yr

Animal scientists $79,120/yr

View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Animal Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Animal Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Madison?

A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Animal Sciences field.

Will AI replace Animal Sciences careers?

With 42% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $496,844 in decade earnings vs $541,505 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →