Communication Disordersat University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduates earn $14,668/yr in their first year — about 42.0% below the national Communication Disorders average. Base-case 10-year earnings $960K; scenarios range from $788K to $965K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UW-Madison
The earnings figures for this program often reflect a foundational undergraduate experience, rather than a terminal professional degree. For aspiring Speech-Language Pathologists or Audiologists, a Master's degree (or Au.D. for Audiology) is almost universally required for licensure and full professional practice. Many UW-Madison graduates leverage this strong academic base as a direct pathway to competitive graduate programs, either staying in-state at institutions like UW-Madison's highly-regarded graduate program, or moving elsewhere. Consequently, the initial earnings capture those taking entry-level support roles, research assistant positions, or those who choose not to pursue advanced degrees immediately, rather than fully licensed professionals. Your key takeaway: if you intend to practice as a licensed SLP or Audiologist, factor in the time and investment of graduate school, as that's where the listed professional salaries truly materialize.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UW-Madison's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Communication Disorders
How UW-Madison stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UW-Madison
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UW-Madison, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communication Disorders offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Communication Disorders trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Communication Disorders at UW-Madison
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication Disorders at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
A score of 35/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication Disorders. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Communication Disorders at University of Wisconsin-Madison worth the student debt?
Median debt of $25,247 against $14,668/yr starting salary means roughly 1.7 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Communication Disorders careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $787,638 in decade earnings vs $964,612 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Communication Disorders from University of Wisconsin-Madison?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.