Cost & ROI · 2026
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison worth it?
Pay $17,354/yr after aid. Graduates earn a median of $73,792 ten years out — about 4.3× the annual cost. EduGradify value grade: B.
The ROI math, in 30 seconds
Benchmarks
University of Wisconsin-Madison vs Wisconsin avg vs national avg
How this school stacks up against the typical Wisconsin college and the typical US college.
| Metric | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Wisconsin avg | National avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg net price | ▲ $17,354 | $20,030 | $18,467 |
| Median earnings 10y | ▲ $73,792 | $54,525 | $50,834 |
| Median debt | ▼ $20,484 | $23,386 | $19,694 |
| Graduation rate | ▲ 89.6% | 57.6% | 49.9% |
| Acceptance rate | ▼ 45.2% | 78.7% | 72.3% |
Hidden cost
What you actually pay, by family income
Net price after grants and scholarships changes a lot depending on family income. Find your bracket.
Total cost
4-year cost projection
Estimated net price each year through graduation, assuming a typical 3% annual tuition increase.
Sticker price (without aid) would run roughly $114,716 over four years. Most students get $11,325/yr in grants and scholarships.
Debt math
Loan repayment scenarios
If you borrow the median $20,484 at a 6.5% federal rate, here's what each repayment plan looks like.
Debt-to-earnings: 28% of one year's median pay. Financial advisors recommend keeping student debt under 100% of expected first-year salary. You're well below that threshold.
Lifetime impact
Lifetime earnings boost vs no degree
Over a typical 40-year career, the median University of Wisconsin-Madison grad earns about $1,151,680 more than a high school graduate (assuming HS median ≈ $45k/yr, BLS).
Caveat: this is a population median, not a guarantee. Actual outcomes vary widely by major, career path, and individual choices. We're showing the median to set realistic expectations.
The verdict
What the numbers say about University of Wisconsin-Madison
The average student at University of Wisconsin-Madison pays $17,354 a year after grants and scholarships, against a $28,679 published sticker price. That is below the WI average net price of $20,030.
Ten years after entry, graduates earn a median of $73,792 — above the WI median of $54,525. Weighed against what students actually pay, EduGradify models this as an exceptional investment.
Typical graduates borrow about $20,484, roughly $222 a month on a standard ten-year plan — a manageable load at about 28% of one year's median earnings.
Frequently asked
Cost & ROI questions
What is the net price at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
The average net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $17,354 per year. That's $11,325/yr in financial aid against the $28,679 sticker price. Over four years, that adds up to roughly $69,416.
How much do University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates earn a median of $73,792 per year — above the national average of $50,834. That's about 4.3× the annual net cost.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates take on?
Median federal loan debt at graduation is $20,484 — about $222/month on a standard 10-year repayment plan (assuming a 6.5% federal rate). 20.4% of students take federal loans.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison worth the cost?
EduGradify assigns University of Wisconsin-Madison a value grade of B — top 26% on real ROI nationally. The math: pay $17,354/yr, earn $73,792/yr ten years out, ROI score of 10.63. Exceptional Investment.
What financial aid is available at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
15.9% of students receive federal Pell Grants (need-based federal aid). 20.4% take federal student loans. On average, students get $11,325 per year in grants and scholarships off the sticker price.
What's the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
In-state tuition is $11,603 per year. Out-of-state tuition is $42,103 per year — a difference of $30,500/yr or $122,000 over four years.
How does net price change with family income at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
Net price is income-adjusted — lower-income families typically pay much less. Students from families earning under $30k pay about $4,200. Students from families earning over $110k pay about $27,292. See the chart below for all five income bands.
How we calculate ROI
Every number on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. ROI score = (median earnings 10 years out × 10) / (avg net price × 4). The higher the ratio, the more graduates earn per dollar invested. We then percentile-rank every US college on that score to assign letter grades A+ through D. Read the full methodology →