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Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,783/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (52% exposed)
Job Market Medium (12,600 openings/yr)
ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (3.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #3 of 6 Astronomy and Astrophysics programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $515K $513K $483K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.5x 11.4x 10.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.2x 3.2x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 62% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 42

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 (3.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,712
-51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $45,783 at University of Wisconsin-Madison come in 13% above the national median of $40,590 for Astronomy and Astrophysics programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Astronomy and Astrophysics programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Astronomy and Astrophysics's typical career paths, with 52% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $45,783 far exceeding the $20,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

This program is one of 6 schools offering Astronomy and Astrophysics in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

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

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

Top Career Paths

Physicists $166,290/yr
Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Astronomers $132,170/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 6 schools offering Astronomy and Astrophysics →

Astronomy and Astrophysics at Other Schools

University of California-Berkeley ($54,746) University of Colorado Boulder ($45,066) University of California-Santa Cruz ($35,171) Michigan State University ($33,373) The University of Texas at Austin ($29,404)

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Chemical Engineering ($85,945) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($83,260) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,018) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($80,566) Industrial Engineering ($80,435) Insurance ($78,796) Materials Engineering ($76,662) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,513)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Astronomy and Astrophysics careers?
With 52% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $482,655 in decade earnings vs $515,388 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →