Nutrition Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Madison

UW-Madison's nutrition sciences program shows graduates earning $34,504 initially, climbing to nearly $53,000 by year four—a 53% jump that outpaces both the national median ($30,508) and Wisconsin's typical outcomes ($32,273). With debt of $20,500, graduates face a manageable 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they owe about seven months of first-year salary. Among Wisconsin's four nutrition sciences programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, though nationally it reaches the 75th percentile—a distinction that matters less if your child plans to work in-state where competition for roles will reflect local salary norms.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outliers could skew these figures significantly, so treat them as directional rather than definitive. The strong earnings trajectory suggests graduates either move into higher-paying roles like clinical dietetics or hospital positions, or complete additional credentials that boost income. At $20,500, the debt load sits below both state and national medians for this field, which typically hovers around $24,000-$26,000.

For a flagship research university with UW-Madison's resources, this program delivers solid value if your child is genuinely committed to nutrition science. The debt won't be crushing, and the four-year earnings suggest real career momentum. Just don't bank everything on these specific numbers—with such a small graduating class, individual results will vary more than usual.