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General Sales at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,760/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (499,600 openings/yr)

ROI 13.8x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #8 of 26 General Sales programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$631K	$617K	$562K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.1x	13.8x	12.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.9x	3.8x	3.5x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	76	75	71

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 (3.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$67,712

-51% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,737

3.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$73,814

28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $57,760 at University of Wisconsin-Madison come in 5% above the national median of $54,790 for General Sales programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI General Sales programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in General Sales's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $57,760 far exceeding the $18,737 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #8 of 26 General Sales programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $57,760 to $73,814 over five years — a 28% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

A 43% admission rate makes University of Wisconsin-Madison accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 35,665 in Madison, WI.

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

Top Career Paths

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products $100,070/yr

Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270/yr

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers $84,130/yr

View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

General Sales at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Consider the Trade Route?

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 General Sales at University of Wisconsin-Madison?

This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for General Sales nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace General Sales careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $562,269 in decade earnings vs $630,815 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →