WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+1% vs national median1,101 grads tracked

Physical Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Madison

Ranked 21st of 82 doctoral (research) programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$74,110
middle 50%: $57,254 – $110,633
Median · 5 years out
$107,644
middle 50%: $78,387 – $148,181
Median · 10 years out
$129,714
middle 50%: $95,990 – $176,940

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (doctoral (research)) graduates.

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

Graduates of University of Wisconsin - Madison's doctoral (research) program in Physical Sciences earn a median $74,110 one year after graduating, rising to $129,714 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $107,017 for this field, ranking 21st of 82 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
4 yrs
≈ $4,363 total interest

Same major at other universities

Georgia Institute of Technology
$112,267 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$111,787 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$110,871 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$110,705 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$110,137 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$109,526 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$107,563 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
College of William & Mary
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$107,017 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$106,347 · 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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