Doctoral (Research)0% vs national median233 grads tracked
History at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ranked 14th of 34 doctoral (research) programs in History by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$64,351
middle 50%: $47,263 – $78,183
Median · 5 years out
$77,013
middle 50%: $62,479 – $90,209
Median · 10 years out
$90,862
middle 50%: $71,512 – $114,072
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for History (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
University of Wisconsin - Madison History PhD holders earn $64k in their first year. Ten-year median earnings reach $91k.
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
5 yrs
≈ $5,425 total interest
Same major at other universities
Indiana University - Bloomington
$79,100 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$78,475 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$78,439 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$78,019 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$77,308 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$76,854 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$76,854 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$74,933 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$74,696 · 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