College Grad Analyst
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Wisconsin · Public · Predominantly bachelor's

Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin. 35,665 undergraduate students. 381 programs in the federal Field-of-Study dataset.

UNITID 240444 · OPEID 003895 · IPEDS HDVINTAGE · COLLEGE SCORECARD · 2025-05 · HISTORY 1996–2024
ANOMALY ENGINE · NOTABLE SIGNALS

Earnings, completion, debt, and enrollment anomalies at Wisconsin

Short-arc shifts (recent 3-year window), peer outliers, earnings trend breaks, completion drops, enrollment cliffs, and debt-to-earnings warnings — surfaced deterministically from the federal record. Multi-decade shifts are reported separately in the Long Arc section, since 25-year tuition drift isn't really an anomaly.

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER-100%

3-year cohort default rate

3-year cohort default rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison fell 100% between 2021 and 2024 (0.2% → 0.0%).

PEER OUTLIER · TRENDING BETTER+34%

Public bachelor's-predominant peer

10-year earnings at University of Wisconsin-Madison are 34% above the public bachelor's-predominant peer median ($73.8k vs $55.2k).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER+10%

Undergraduate enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Madison rose 10% between 2021 and 2024 (33.5k → 36.9k).

SECTION 01 · OUTCOMES SNAPSHOT

Wisconsin earnings, debt, and completion vs. the Wisconsin median

Each tile compares this institution to the Wisconsin median for the same metric. Sub-line shows the comparison value, not an interpretation. Sparklines trace the federally available history.

MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10Y
$73,792+20% · 6→10y
Wisconsin median $46,297
MEDIAN EARNINGS · 6Y
$61,275
Treasury earnings · 6y post-entry
COMPLETION · 150%
89.3%+22% · '97→'24
Wisconsin median 58.4%
MEDIAN FEDERAL DEBT
$18,058+114% · '97→'20
At program completion
UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT
35,665+39% · '96→'24
latest IPEDS
RETENTION
94.5%+5% · '04→'24
first-time, full-time
ADMISSION RATE
43.4%-40% · '01→'24
latest cohort
IN-STATE TUITION
$11,205+206% · '00→'24
out-of-state $40,603
SECTION 02 · EARNINGS HORIZONS

How Wisconsin earnings spread, 4 to 10 years after entry

Treasury tax-record earnings for federally aided students who first enrolled at this institution. Each point is a horizon from the most-recent vintage. Single median per horizon (no p25/p75 publishing).

ALL FEDERALLY AIDED STUDENTS · TAX-RECORD EARNINGSVINTAGE 2025-05
Earnings widen with time post-entry. Selection: federal-aid recipients only — not all graduates.Methodology →
SECTION 03 · DEBT-TO-EARNINGS

What loans cost relative to earnings at Wisconsin

Annual debt service as a share of median earnings 10 years after entry, computed under federal Direct loan terms (10-year fixed at 6%). The 8% line is the gainful-employment threshold from federal regulation; above 12% has historically been considered “failing” under prior rule cycles.

Institution-wide

3.3%
0%8% · GE20%+

Median federal debt $18,058 amortized over 10 years vs. median earnings $73,792 (10y after entry).

SECTION 04 · LONG ARC

Wisconsin enrollment, completion, and debt over time

Federally available history. Coverage varies by metric — IPEDS publishes some series only after 2009 and others only before.

UNDERGRAD · 1996–202436,902
36,90226,64419962024
Undergraduate enrollment.IPEDS EF
COMPLETION 150% · 1997–202489.5%
90%73%19972024
150%-time completion rate.IPEDS GR
MEDIAN DEBT · 1997–2020$20,484
$22,500$9,15219972020
Median federal student debt at exit.SCORECARD
COMPLETION · 150% · 1997→2024+22%

Wisconsin · completion · 150% rose

73.3% → 89.5%

COMPLETION · 100% · 1997→2024+127%

Wisconsin · completion · 100% rose

33.1% → 75.2%

UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT · 1996→2024+39%

Wisconsin · undergrad enrollment rose

26,644 → 36,902

IN-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+206%

Wisconsin · in-state tuition rose

$3,788 → $11,603

OUT-OF-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+197%

Wisconsin · out-of-state tuition rose

$14,186 → $42,103

MEDIAN DEBT · 1997→2020+114%

Wisconsin · median debt rose

$9,573 → $20,484

COHORT DEFAULT RATE · 2011→2024-70%

Wisconsin · cohort default rate fell

1.4% → 0.0%

PELL SHARE · 2008→2024+32%

Wisconsin · pell share rose

12.1% → 15.9%

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_10YR · 2007→2020+39%

Wisconsin · earnings_median_10yr rose

$52,900 → $73,792

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_8YR · 2005→2020+48%

Wisconsin · earnings_median_8yr rose

$47,300 → $69,868

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_6YR · 2003→2020+49%

Wisconsin · earnings_median_6yr rose

$41,200 → $61,275

SECTION 05 · PROGRAMS

Wisconsin programs ranked by 5-year earnings

Each row is one (CIP × credential) program reported by the institution in College Scorecard's Field-of-Study data. Cohort floor is 30 students; below this, federal data is suppressed.

MedicineCIP 5112 · First Professional Degree$191,376167 gradsFinance and Financial Management ServicesCIP 5208 · Master's Degree$180,89623 gradsReal EstateCIP 5215 · Master's Degree$172,82733 gradsMarketingCIP 5214 · Master's Degree$165,19120 gradsBusiness/Commerce, GeneralCIP 5201 · Master's Degree$160,84683 gradsComputer EngineeringCIP 1409 · Bachelor's Degree$145,33793 gradsPharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationCIP 5120 · First Professional Degree$143,810148 gradsElectrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringCIP 1410 · Master's Degree$134,92987 gradsEngineering, GeneralCIP 1401 · Master's Degree$133,03755 gradsManagement Sciences and Quantitative MethodsCIP 5213 · Bachelor's Degree$126,85570 gradsMechanical EngineeringCIP 1419 · Master's Degree$125,31063 gradsPublic HealthCIP 5122 · Doctoral Degree$122,21512 gradsAllied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsCIP 5109 · First Professional Degree$120,354—Real EstateCIP 5215 · Bachelor's Degree$119,949182 gradsComputer and Information Sciences, GeneralCIP 1101 · Bachelor's Degree$118,588668 gradsNuclear EngineeringCIP 1423 · Bachelor's Degree$110,89721 gradsInsuranceCIP 5217 · Bachelor's Degree$110,596128 gradsBiotechnologyCIP 2612 · Master's Degree$110,28126 gradsIndustrial EngineeringCIP 1435 · Bachelor's Degree$110,022105 gradsVeterinary MedicineCIP 0180 · First Professional Degree$108,214100 gradsBiochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyCIP 2602 · Doctoral Degree$107,38924 gradsFinance and Financial Management ServicesCIP 5208 · Bachelor's Degree$106,484440 gradsAccounting and Related ServicesCIP 5203 · Master's Degree$106,03690 gradsLawCIP 2201 · First Professional Degree$104,344268 grads
Showing top 24 of 100 ranked programs.381 TOTAL PROGRAMS
SECTION 06 · BY CIP FAMILY

100 Wisconsin programs with earnings, grouped by field

Programs are grouped by 2-digit CIP family. Programs without reported earnings are hidden to keep the list focused.

COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCES · CIP 11

Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$118,588668 grads

EDUCATION · CIP 13

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$51,263105 gradsEducational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$69,44185 gradsSpecial Education and TeachingBachelor's Degree$55,06351 gradsTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$46,33830 gradsCurriculum and InstructionDoctoral Degree$75,61118 grads

ENGINEERING · CIP 14

Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$97,845183 gradsBiomedical/Medical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$94,667130 gradsCivil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$83,988111 gradsElectrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree$93,494110 gradsIndustrial EngineeringBachelor's Degree$110,022105 gradsChemical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$102,02398 gradsComputer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$145,33793 gradsElectrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringMaster's Degree$134,92987 gradsMechanical EngineeringMaster's Degree$125,31063 gradsAgricultural EngineeringBachelor's Degree$78,77360 gradsEngineering, GeneralMaster's Degree$133,03755 gradsEngineering MechanicsBachelor's Degree$86,48046 gradsBiomedical/Medical EngineeringMaster's Degree$97,30639 gradsMaterials EngineeringBachelor's Degree$85,20735 gradsNuclear EngineeringBachelor's Degree$110,89721 gradsGeological/Geophysical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$86,07021 grads

FOREIGN LANGUAGES · CIP 16

Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$60,761191 gradsRomance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsDoctoral Degree$62,2213 grads

FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES · CIP 19

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$55,416197 grads

LEGAL PROFESSIONS · CIP 22

LawFirst Professional Degree$104,344268 gradsNon-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate)Bachelor's Degree$65,938112 grads

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE · CIP 23

English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$53,044129 grads

LIBRARY SCIENCE · CIP 25

Library Science and AdministrationMaster's Degree$56,31190 grads

BIOLOGICAL & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES · CIP 26

Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$68,812380 gradsBiochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBachelor's Degree$71,370209 gradsGeneticsBachelor's Degree$68,301121 gradsMicrobiological Sciences and ImmunologyBachelor's Degree$65,14477 gradsZoology/Animal BiologyBachelor's Degree$49,35254 gradsEcology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyBachelor's Degree$39,79646 gradsBiotechnologyMaster's Degree$110,28126 gradsBiochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyDoctoral Degree$107,38924 grads

MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS · CIP 27

MathematicsBachelor's Degree$100,406274 grads

MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES · CIP 30

International/Global StudiesBachelor's Degree$61,22595 gradsNutrition SciencesBachelor's Degree$65,13173 grads

PARKS, RECREATION & FITNESS · CIP 31

Health and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$70,830136 grads

PHILOSOPHY & RELIGIOUS STUDIES · CIP 38

PhilosophyBachelor's Degree$56,64562 grads

PHYSICAL SCIENCES · CIP 40

ChemistryBachelor's Degree$73,89673 gradsPhysicsBachelor's Degree$69,92856 gradsGeological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$71,56437 grads

PSYCHOLOGY · CIP 42

Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$61,607447 gradsClinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyMaster's Degree$63,45851 grads

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & SOCIAL SERVICES · CIP 44

Social WorkMaster's Degree$63,642133 gradsSocial WorkBachelor's Degree$57,40067 gradsPublic Policy AnalysisMaster's Degree$81,26029 grads

SOCIAL SCIENCES · CIP 45

EconomicsBachelor's Degree$84,958624 gradsPolitical Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$68,593399 gradsSociologyBachelor's Degree$60,766115 gradsGeography and CartographyBachelor's Degree$62,15847 gradsAnthropologyBachelor's Degree$50,44633 grads

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS · CIP 50

Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$39,03872 gradsFine and Studio ArtsMaster's Degree$47,69937 gradsDesign and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree$58,64636 gradsMusicBachelor's Degree$43,31128 gradsMusicDoctoral Degree$55,23224 gradsDrama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$45,07420 gradsMusicMaster's Degree$37,83917 grads

HEALTH PROFESSIONS · CIP 51

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$81,103229 gradsMedicineFirst Professional Degree$191,376167 gradsPharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationFirst Professional Degree$143,810148 gradsCommunication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$63,83286 gradsPublic HealthMaster's Degree$82,95584 gradsRehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$60,97556 gradsRehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsFirst Professional Degree$78,31244 gradsCommunication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$61,34838 gradsRehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsMaster's Degree$73,58236 gradsAllied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$55,86020 gradsPublic HealthDoctoral Degree$122,21512 gradsAllied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsFirst Professional Degree$120,354—

BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & MARKETING · CIP 52

Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$106,484440 gradsMarketingBachelor's Degree$99,093226 gradsBusiness Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$92,203211 gradsReal EstateBachelor's Degree$119,949182 gradsGeneral Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing OperationsBachelor's Degree$73,814165 gradsAccounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$96,130129 gradsInsuranceBachelor's Degree$110,596128 gradsAccounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$106,03690 gradsBusiness/Commerce, GeneralMaster's Degree$160,84683 gradsManagement Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBachelor's Degree$126,85570 gradsInternational BusinessBachelor's Degree$103,18545 gradsReal EstateMaster's Degree$172,82733 gradsFinance and Financial Management ServicesMaster's Degree$180,89623 gradsMarketingMaster's Degree$165,19120 grads

HISTORY · CIP 54

HistoryBachelor's Degree$58,333116 grads

AGRICULTURE · CIP 01

Veterinary MedicineFirst Professional Degree$108,214100 gradsAgricultural Public ServicesBachelor's Degree$69,23976 gradsAnimal SciencesBachelor's Degree$57,02450 gradsAgricultural Business and ManagementBachelor's Degree$74,75248 gradsFood Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$74,12025 grads

NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION · CIP 03

Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree$53,967163 gradsWildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementBachelor's Degree$36,65723 grads

AREA, ETHNIC & CULTURAL STUDIES · CIP 05

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesBachelor's Degree$52,02538 gradsArea StudiesBachelor's Degree$51,83121 grads

COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM · CIP 09

Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$57,874316 gradsJournalismBachelor's Degree$68,253196 grads
FINANCIAL OUTCOME · ILLUSTRATION

Estimate the financial outcome at Wisconsin

Pick a program. Cost from Scorecard net price by family income; earnings from Treasury 5-year-post-completion median, projected forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve. The selection-bias toggle applies the Dale-Krueger shrinkage. Outcomes illustration, not a forecast — see methodology.

Shrinks the earnings premium toward the matched-applicant mean. STEM <15%, business ~40%, arts & education ~60%.

NET PRESENT VALUE
$1,729,923
Over 40 years, discounted 5.0%
BREAKEVEN
Year 4
First year cumulative discounted earnings cross zero
graduationbreakeven · year 4year 0year 39
Cost per year
$9,613
HS-only baseline · WI
$37,100
Years to complete
4
CIP family
11

Outcomes illustration · not a forecast. Projects observed Scorecard earnings forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve under your assumptions. See methodology for the math.

SECTION 07 · SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS

Institutions similar to Wisconsin in Wisconsin

Picked by Carnegie sector × predominant credential level. These are not rankings — just nearest-neighbour surfaces for comparison.

MILWAUKEE$55.0k

UW-Milwaukee

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 51% completion
LA CROSSE$60.4k

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 71% completion
WHITEWATER$55.4k

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 64% completion
EAU CLAIRE$58.6k

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 68% completion
OSHKOSH$55.5k

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Public · Predominantly bachelor's · 58% completion
CAUSAL DISCIPLINE

“Wisconsin graduates earn $X” — not “Wisconsin makes you earn $X”

Median earnings describe what cohorts earned. They do not describe what attending Wisconsin caused. Selection effects (who admits, who enrolls, who completes) are real. We publish federal data with strict descriptive phrasing — and link the methodology where you can read about the limitations directly.

Methodology →