University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, WI

Communication and Media Studies

at University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI

Strong Value

Solid pick

The Bottom Line

↑Grads earn about $36,006/yr starting out — that's 20% more than skipping college
⏱Takes about 12.5 years to earn back what you spent
$Students on financial aid pay about $16,928/yr after grants & scholarships (varies by family income) — $75,177 total with loan interest

Listed Price

$27,770/yr

Starting Salary

$36,006

Finish Rate

89.3%

$27,770/yr

Full sticker price — tuition, housing, and fees before any aid

Students on financial aid pay $16,928/yr after grants & scholarships (saves $10,842/yr)

4 Years Total

$111,080

Typical Debt

$20,484

Interest You'd Owe

+$7,465

What You'd Really Pay

$75,177

That's about $233/month for 10 years after you graduate

You'd earn (with degree)$360,060

Without college$300,000

Total cost of degree$75,177

Pays for Itself In

12.5 yrs

Salary Boost

+20%

Ahead After 10 Years

$284,883

How We Scored This

Salary vs. Cost40/40

Do you earn enough to justify the price?

Payoff Speed10.4/25

How fast do you earn back what you spent?

Salary Boost2.7/20

How much more than skipping college?

Graduation Rate13.4/15

Will you actually finish?

Data from the U.S. Department of Education. Salaries are what recent grads typically earn — yours could be higher or lower.

Costs can change. These numbers don't adjust for where you live, and only cover students who used federal financial aid. Not financial advice.