Home › University of Wisconsin-Madison › Physics

Physics at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,878/yr (-21% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Large (77,700 openings/yr)

ROI 15.8x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #41 of 75 Physics programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$737K	$707K	$628K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.4x	15.8x	14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.5x	4.4x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	62%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	50	56

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 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$67,712

-51% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$69,928

90% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,878 place University of Wisconsin-Madison below the $46,482 national median for Physics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 15.8x 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 — 50% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$36,878 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #41 out of 75 programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison's financial outcomes for Physics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $36,878 to $69,928 over five years (90% 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, 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

Physics teachers, postsecondary $97,360/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Physics at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Wisconsin-Madison's Physics program score?

A score of 50/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Wisconsin-Madison trails the majority of Physics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

How vulnerable is Physics to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Physics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Physics earnings lower at University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Lower starting pay at University of Wisconsin-Madison may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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