Master's+4% vs national median53 grads tracked
History at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ranked 50th of 136 master's programs in History by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$40,883
middle 50%: $31,694 – $45,661
Median · 5 years out
$60,508
middle 50%: $41,863 – $83,179
Median · 10 years out
$74,472
middle 50%: $58,537 – $91,654
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for History (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 History earn a median $40,883 one year after graduating, rising to $74,472 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% above the national median of $58,413 for this field, ranking 50th of 136 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 yrs
≈ $8,142 total interest
Same major at other universities
Stephen F Austin State University
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Denver
$62,007 · 5 yrs out
Winthrop University
$61,969 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$61,630 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$60,442 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University-Pueblo
$60,177 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$60,144 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Indiana State University
$59,848 · 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