Communication and Media Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison

UW-Madison's Communication and Media Studies program starts graduates at $37,286—below what smaller UW campuses achieve and landing in the 40th percentile among Wisconsin programs. That's a surprising outcome for a flagship university with a 1402 average SAT score. Graduates from UW-Superior and UW-Oshkosh consistently out-earn Madison grads, even four years out, suggesting the Madison name doesn't translate to premium compensation in this field.

The silver lining is strong earnings momentum. The 35% jump from year one to year four ($50,226) demonstrates that Madison grads eventually catch up, and the debt load of $23,250 is manageable—lower than both state and national medians. The 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than two-thirds of their first year's salary, which is workable even during the leaner early years.

For Wisconsin families, this creates an interesting calculation. If your child could get into smaller UW system schools that deliver higher starting salaries with similar or lower debt, those might offer better immediate returns. But if Madison's broader alumni network and research opportunities matter for long-term career plans, the eventual earnings growth suggests the slower start isn't permanent. Just don't expect the flagship premium to show up in those first paychecks.