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Accounting and Related Services at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $68,909/yr (28% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)

ROI 18.8x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #8 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs Top 1%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Accounting and Related Services graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$903K	$845K	$709K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	20.2x	18.8x	15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.2x	4.4x
Probability of Field Employment	76%	65%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	87	85	82

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$44,820

Out-of-state: $162,412 (5.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$67,712

-51% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,277

3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$96,130

40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $68,909 put University of Wisconsin-Madison's Accounting and Related Services program 28% above the national median of $53,724 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 18.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 62% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $68,909 far exceeding the $20,277 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #8 ranking out of 714 programs puts University of Wisconsin-Madison in the top 1% for Accounting and Related Services. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $68,909 to $96,130 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

A 43% admission rate makes University of Wisconsin-Madison accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 35,665 in Madison, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Madison →

Top Career Paths

Financial managers $161,700/yr

Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr

Financial and investment analysts $101,350/yr

View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Wisconsin-Madison's Accounting and Related Services program score?

A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Wisconsin-Madison's Accounting and Related Services graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Accounting and Related Services to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Accounting and Related Services careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 62% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of Wisconsin-Madison rank so high for Accounting and Related Services?

The #8 ranking out of 714 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →