WhatGradsMake
Master's-6% vs national median146 grads tracked

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs at University of Wisconsin - Madison

Ranked 64th of 124 master's programs in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$46,093
middle 50%: $34,289 – $60,095
Median · 5 years out
$68,022
middle 50%: $50,601 – $84,874
Median · 10 years out
$77,482
middle 50%: $61,531 – $103,888

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (master's) graduates.

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

Graduates of University of Wisconsin - Madison's master's program in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs earn a median $46,093 one year after graduating, rising to $77,482 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $72,014 for this field, ranking 64th of 124 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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,153 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of South Carolina - Columbia
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$69,086 · 5 yrs out
Sacred Heart University
$68,450 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$68,363 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$68,363 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$67,811 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$67,476 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$67,343 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$67,174 · 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

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