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Economics at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
77 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
78
Optimistic
77
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $54,495/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #21 of 351 Economics programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $793K $763K $650K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.7x 17.0x 14.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.7x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 78 77 72

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 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,712
-51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$84,958
56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $54,495 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Economics programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.

At $20,500 in median debt against $54,495 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #21 of 351 programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison's Economics program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $84,958 show a 56% jump from the $54,495 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

With a 43% acceptance rate, University of Wisconsin-Madison is moderately selective, with 35,665 students enrolled in Madison, WI.

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

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

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)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
This program scores 77/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Economics careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $650,339 in decade earnings vs $793,227 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →