Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology at University of Wisconsin-Madison

UW-Madison's ecology and evolution program starts graduates at $28,856—just below the national median—but shows impressive upward momentum with 38% earnings growth by year four. That trajectory matters: while the first-year salary might feel underwhelming, reaching nearly $40,000 by year four suggests graduates are finding their footing in research, conservation, or environmental roles that value specialized expertise. The $19,500 median debt is notably lower than the national program average of $23,480, giving graduates more breathing room as they build their careers.

Within Wisconsin's limited ecology program landscape, this sits right at the state median for both earnings and debt. The 60th percentile national ranking isn't spectacular, but it's respectable for a field known more for mission-driven work than high starting salaries. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 is manageable—graduates owe less than nine months of first-year salary, which is reasonable given the field's typically modest compensation.

The real question is career trajectory beyond year four. If your student is passionate about ecology and plans to pursue graduate work or specialized environmental careers, UW-Madison's research reputation offers solid preparation without crushing debt. But if they're unsure about the field or expect strong immediate earnings, they should understand this is a slower financial build than many other biology tracks. For committed ecology students, the combination of reasonable debt and steady growth makes this viable, especially with UW-Madison's alumni network to help navigate career pivots.