Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $83,260 put University of Wisconsin-Madison's Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods program 33% above the national median of $62,729 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
With a 24.3x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 24% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $83,260 far exceeding the $22,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Among 118 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods programs nationally, University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks #1 — elite territory by any measure of graduate financial outcomes.
The $83,260-to-$126,855 earnings arc over five years reflects a 52% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.