Doctoral (Research)0% vs national median319 grads tracked
Psychology at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ranked 49th of 87 doctoral (research) programs in Psychology by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$71,365
middle 50%: $58,193 – $88,779
Median · 5 years out
$97,180
middle 50%: $77,811 – $120,903
Median · 10 years out
$108,381
middle 50%: $83,400 – $139,576
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Psychology (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Research doctorate graduates in Psychology earn $71k in year one. Median pay climbs to $97k by year five and exceeds $108k by year ten.
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
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,629 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Michigan
$98,259 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$97,725 · 5 yrs out
National Louis University
$97,592 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$97,549 · 5 yrs out
Northern Illinois University
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$97,191 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$96,701 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
$95,990 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$95,481 · 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