Public Policy Analysis graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison earn $78,939 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $20,213.
Public Policy Analysis at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Public Policy Analysis at University of Wisconsin-Madison
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for University of Wisconsin-Madison and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Public Policy Analysis at the master's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 39 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at University of Wisconsin-Madison, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $78,939 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $82,509 across all institutions offering Public Policy Analysis, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison, the mean median-earnings figure is $80,259, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Public Policy Analysis graduates at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $20,213, which translates to roughly $168 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Public Policy Analysis at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | $129,978 | $70,447 |
| University of California-San Francisco | $124,169 | — |
| Princeton University | $120,163 | — |
| University of Chicago | $112,727 | $78,854 |
| Georgetown University | $110,634 | $99,635 |
| Duke University | $109,274 | $66,331 |
| Johns Hopkins University | $107,692 | $32,114 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $107,392 | $48,894 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $103,268 | $41,000 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $100,925 | $41,000 |
Other Programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $196,985 | — |
| Public Health | $169,322 | — |
| Marketing | $166,668 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $164,371 | — |
| Business/Commerce, General | $160,097 | $50,847 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $156,689 | — |
| Engineering, General | $147,101 | $41,000 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $139,210 | $127,000 |
| Economics | $136,278 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $129,743 | — |
Other Schools with Public Policy Analysis
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.