Location: Madison, WI•In-State Tuition: $11,205•Out-of-State Tuition: $40,603•Admission Rate: 43%•Avg SAT: 1402
Median Earnings (1yr)
$66,591
95th percentile
60th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Debt
$14,000
40% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.21 ManageableSample: 21 graduates Limited data

Analysis

UW-Madison's International Business program graduates earn $66,591 in their first year—$17,000 above the national median and $12,000 above Wisconsin's median. Within four years, earnings jump to $94,000, putting graduates well ahead of typical international business majors nationwide. The debt load is remarkably light at $14,000, less than half the national median for this program, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.21. For comparison, the typical International Business graduate elsewhere carries $23,472 in debt while earning $17,000 less.

Here's the catch: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly with a different cohort. The 60th percentile ranking within Wisconsin is also puzzling given the strong absolute earnings—it suggests either that Wisconsin has an unusually competitive landscape for this major, or that the small sample is skewing results. Still, even accepting some statistical noise, the fundamentals are strong: high earnings, low debt, and solid trajectory.

If your student is admitted to UW-Madison and interested in international business, the financial profile looks excellent. The combination of Wisconsin's in-state tuition advantage and strong starting salaries makes this a relatively low-risk investment, assuming the sample size reflects a real pattern rather than an outlier year.

Where University of Wisconsin-Madison Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all international business bachelors's programs nationally

University of Wisconsin-MadisonOther international business programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Wisconsin-Madison earns $67k — 95th percentile among international business bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Wisconsin-Madison$66,591$94,010+41%
George Washington University$70,856$101,930+44%
Georgetown University$81,800$101,821+24%
University of Delaware$57,941$92,663+60%
Marquette University$59,255$73,820+25%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (12 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison$11,205$66,591$94,010$14,0000.21
Marquette UniversityMilwaukee$48,700$59,255$73,820$24,9900.42
University of Wisconsin-La CrosseLa Crosse$9,651$49,463—$20,4750.41
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater$8,250$47,225———
National Median—$49,890—$23,4720.47

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with international business graduates

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Business Operations Specialists, All Other

All business operations specialists not listed separately.

Business Continuity Planners

Develop, maintain, or implement business continuity and disaster recovery strategies and solutions, including risk assessments, business impact analyses, strategy selection, and documentation of business continuity and disaster recovery procedures. Plan, conduct, and debrief regular mock-disaster exercises to test the adequacy of existing plans and strategies, updating procedures and plans regularly. Act as a coordinator for continuity efforts after a disruption event.

Sustainability Specialists

Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.

Online Merchants

Conduct retail activities of businesses operating exclusively online. May perform duties such as preparing business strategies, buying merchandise, managing inventory, implementing marketing activities, fulfilling and shipping online orders, and balancing financial records.

Security Management Specialists

Conduct security assessments for organizations, and design security systems and processes. May specialize in areas such as physical security or the safety of employees and facilities.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Wisconsin-Madison, approximately 15% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 21 graduates with reported earnings and 19 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.