Financeat University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduates earn $68,681/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Finance average. Base-case 10-year earnings $912K; scenarios range from $774K to $971K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UW-Madison
The strong financial outcomes for UW-Madison Finance graduates reflect the program's robust reputation and deep connections within the Midwest's financial sector. You'll benefit from a rigorous curriculum that prepares you for diverse roles, from investment banking and corporate finance to wealth management, often with major firms in Chicago, Milwaukee, and even beyond. The university's respected alumni network also provides invaluable recruiting pipelines and mentorship opportunities, giving you a competitive edge. While the field faces significant AI risk, this primarily impacts routine, data-intensive tasks. Your path will increasingly emphasize strategic thinking, complex problem-solving, and client relationship management, skills that automation can't replicate. To thrive, actively seek internships that expose you to these higher-level responsibilities and cultivate your professional network early on.
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 Finance
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 Finance offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Finance trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Finance at UW-Madison
What does a 87/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Finance at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
At 87/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Finance at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
The 55% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison one of the best schools for Finance?
Among 431 Finance programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison's #6 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.