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Business Administration at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
82 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
82
Optimistic
82
Base Case
76
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,699/yr (44% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 15.7x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #14 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 1%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business Administration graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $724K $705K $617K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.1x 15.7x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.3x 3.8x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 82 82 76

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 (4.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,712
-51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$92,203
36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $67,699 per year, Business Administration graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison significantly outpace the $46,892 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Business Administration's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $20,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #14 of 1,169 Business Administration programs nationally, University of Wisconsin-Madison sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $67,699 to $92,203 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison accepts 43% of applicants, balancing access with 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

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
View all 42 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 1169 schools offering Business Administration →

Business Administration at Other Schools

Manhattan College ($113,777) Bismarck State College ($100,668) Maine Maritime Academy ($98,743) Carnegie Mellon University ($95,891) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($93,674) University of Pennsylvania ($91,443) University of California-Berkeley ($90,008) Emory University ($85,682)

Compare Business Administration

University of Wisconsin-Madison vs Bismarck State College → University of Wisconsin-Madison vs University of Michigan-Ann Arbor → University of Wisconsin-Madison vs University of California-Berkeley →

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Chemical Engineering ($85,945) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($83,260) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,018) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($80,566) Industrial Engineering ($80,435) Insurance ($78,796) Materials Engineering ($76,662) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,513)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
This program scores 82/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Business Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Business Administration careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $616,986 in decade earnings vs $723,587 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Wisconsin-Madison's Business Administration program stand out?
Ranked #14 of 1,169 programs nationally, University of Wisconsin-Madison lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →