Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Wisconsin-Madison

UW-Madison's business program graduates earn $67,699 in their first year—48% more than the typical Wisconsin business graduate and 80th percentile statewide. That's a remarkable premium considering the program costs less than most Wisconsin business schools: $20,500 in median debt versus the state median of $27,000. You're getting what appears to be the strongest business education value in the state, combining relatively modest borrowing with the highest early earnings in Wisconsin.

The trajectory stays strong. By year four, earnings reach nearly $82,000, maintaining solid growth of 21%. This program significantly outperforms both Marquette ($63,285) and Milwaukee School of Engineering ($60,187) in starting salaries while saddling graduates with substantially less debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 means graduates owe roughly one-third of their first-year salary—comfortably manageable for a business degree.

For anxious parents, this is straightforward: if your child can get into UW-Madison (43% acceptance rate, 1402 average SAT), the business program delivers exceptional return on investment. The combination of lower-than-average debt and top-tier earnings both in-state and nationally (95th percentile) creates one of the clearest financial advantages you'll find among Wisconsin business schools. The robust sample size confirms these aren't outlier results—this is what typical graduates actually earn.