Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at University of Wisconsin-Madison

UW-Madison's reputation doesn't translate into standout earnings for its teaching graduates. With first-year earnings of $46,000—just 60th percentile within Wisconsin—this program trails nearby UW-Stout by over $1,200 annually. More concerning is that small sample suggests earnings dip by 7% by year four, though with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, that pattern may not be reliable. The debt load of $27,000 matches the state median and keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.59, but you're not getting premium financial returns for attending a selective university (43% admission rate, 1402 SAT average).

The real question is what you're paying for access to Madison's brand. If your child qualifies for in-state tuition and values the campus experience or research opportunities at a flagship institution, the numbers aren't prohibitive—just unremarkable for education majors. However, if teaching certification is the primary goal, UW-Stout graduates earn more right out of the gate with similar debt burdens.

Given the small sample size, treat this data as directional rather than definitive. But the pattern is clear enough: UW-Madison's education program offers solid outcomes without justifying a significant financial premium over other Wisconsin public universities.