Economicsat University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduates earn $54,495/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $763K; scenarios range from $650K to $793K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UW-Madison
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.
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 Economics
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 Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Economics at UW-Madison
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.