Physics at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,878/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Large (77,700 openings/yr)
ROI
15.8x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Physics graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $737K | $707K | $628K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 16.4x | 15.8x | 14.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.5x | 4.4x | 3.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 70% | 62% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 51 | 50 | 56 |
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 (4.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,928
90% growth from Year 1
About University of Wisconsin-Madison
A 43% admission rate makes University of Wisconsin-Madison accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 35,665 students enrolled in Madison, WI.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Madison →Top Career Paths
Physicists
$166,290/yr
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Physics teachers, postsecondary
$97,360/yr
Compare & Explore
Physics at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of Wisconsin-Madison's Physics program score?
A score of 50/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Wisconsin-Madison trails the majority of Physics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Physics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Physics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Physics earnings lower at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
Lower starting pay at University of Wisconsin-Madison may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →