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Journalism at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,942/yr (19% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (64% exposed)
Job Market Large (50,500 openings/yr)
ROI 13.9x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #4 of 178 Journalism programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Journalism graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $645K $623K $550K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.4x 13.9x 12.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 3.8x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 46% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 51 45

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 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,712
-51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,253
67% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,942 at University of Wisconsin-Madison come in 19% above the national median of $34,417 for Journalism programs.

The 13.9x 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 — 64% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,500 debt-to-$40,942 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #4 out of 178 programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison's Journalism program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $40,942 to $68,253 over five years (67% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful 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

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr
Editors $75,260/yr
Writers and authors $72,270/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 178 schools offering Journalism →

Journalism at Other Schools

George Washington University ($52,015) Northeastern University ($51,855) Northwestern University ($50,426) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($48,637) University of Maryland-College Park ($46,893) Brigham Young University ($46,652) Lehigh University ($45,256) University of Southern California ($44,651)

Compare Journalism

University of Wisconsin-Madison vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo → University of Wisconsin-Madison vs University of Maryland-College Park → University of Wisconsin-Madison vs Brigham Young University →

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

How does University of Wisconsin-Madison's Journalism program score?
This program scores 51/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Journalism graduates.
How vulnerable is Journalism to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Journalism careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 64% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of Wisconsin-Madison rank so high for Journalism?
The #4 ranking out of 178 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 →