WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-12% vs national median511 grads tracked

Area Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison

Ranked 34th of 67 bachelor's programs in Area Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,047
middle 50%: $25,347 – $50,942
Median · 5 years out
$54,349
middle 50%: $39,720 – $74,916
Median · 10 years out
$75,771
middle 50%: $53,997 – $104,117

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Area Studies (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of University of Wisconsin - Madison's bachelor's program in Area Studies earn a median $36,047 one year after graduating, rising to $75,771 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 12% below the national median of $61,940 for this field, ranking 34th of 67 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
7.7 yrs
≈ $9,206 total interest

Same major at other universities

State University of New York at Stony Brook
$55,935 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$55,137 · 5 yrs out
Macalester College
$54,898 · 5 yrs out
Dominican University
$54,857 · 5 yrs out
Saint Olaf College
$54,534 · 5 yrs out
DePaul University
$54,404 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Old Westbury
$53,647 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$53,219 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$53,081 · 5 yrs out
Texas State University
$52,989 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$52,920 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Wisconsin - Madison

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$227,440 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$191,060 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$179,858 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$176,530 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,036 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$140,310 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$139,926 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$134,767 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$133,218 · 5 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$127,595 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies
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Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
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