Top 50 Best Doctoral Degree Programs in Wisconsin by ROI

Every Doctoral Degree program in Wisconsin ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Wisconsin

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$597,908

Across all Wisconsin programs

Average Annual Cost

$39,468

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Concordia University-Wisconsin Grad rate: 65.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,526,908	$128,689	$51,718	N/A	Full ROI →
2	Concordia University-Wisconsin Grad rate: 65.3%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,438,128	$124,250	$51,718	N/A	Full ROI →
3	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Grad rate: 66.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,416,524	$117,029	$21,014	N/A	Full ROI →
4	Marquette University Grad rate: 81.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,256,828	$117,488	$63,233	N/A	Full ROI →
5	University of Wisconsin-Madison Grad rate: 89.3%	Sociology.	+$855,420	$90,325	$27,770	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Marquette University Grad rate: 81.3%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$820,308	$95,662	$63,233	N/A	Full ROI →
7	University of Wisconsin-Madison Grad rate: 89.3%	Chemistry.	+$797,860	$87,447	$27,770	N/A	Full ROI →
8	Marian University Grad rate: 45.6%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$572,808	$78,787	$40,733	N/A	Full ROI →
9	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Grad rate: 70.5%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$571,840	$74,215	$18,115	N/A	Full ROI →
10	University of Wisconsin-Madison Grad rate: 89.3%	Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.	+$546,920	$74,900	$27,770	N/A	Full ROI →
11	Medical College of Wisconsin	Public Health.	+$544,080	$69,204	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
12	Viterbo University Grad rate: 62.9%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$513,568	$76,503	$44,123	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Concordia University-Wisconsin Grad rate: 65.3%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$481,128	$76,400	$51,718	N/A	Full ROI →
14	University of Wisconsin-Madison Grad rate: 89.3%	Curriculum and Instruction.	+$402,840	$67,696	$27,770	N/A	Full ROI →
15	Marquette University Grad rate: 81.3%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$400,948	$74,694	$63,233	N/A	Full ROI →
16	Marian University Grad rate: 45.6%	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.	+$185,868	$59,440	$40,733	N/A	Full ROI →
17	Marquette University Grad rate: 81.3%	Religion/Religious Studies.	+$169,048	$63,099	$63,233	N/A	Full ROI →
18	University of Wisconsin-Madison Grad rate: 89.3%	History.	+$136,200	$54,364	$27,770	N/A	Full ROI →
19	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Grad rate: 49.6%	Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General.	+$117,804	$52,325	$22,174	N/A	Full ROI →
20	University of Wisconsin-Madison Grad rate: 89.3%	Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.	-$28,460	$46,131	$27,770	N/A	Full ROI →
21	University of Wisconsin-Madison Grad rate: 89.3%	Music.	-$170,480	$39,030	$27,770	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.