Compare 13 Political Economy. programs in Wisconsin. Average earnings: $44,180.
With top graduates earning $58,230, Political Economy stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $14K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Marquette University's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $58,230, while the University of Wisconsin-Madison follows closely at $56,465. The average across Wisconsin's 13 programs is $44,180, yet both leaders outperform this benchmark by substantial margins—demonstrating how program-level factors drive outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UW-Madison graduates borrow $20,484 and face just an 8.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. At Marquette, students earn more but face a similar 9.2% burden, proving that strong programs can deliver both outcomes and affordability.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $58,230 | 81 | $23,940 | Good | $45,500 | High |
| #2 | $56,465 | 363 | $20,484 | Good | $28,364 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $51,411 | 42 | $23,188 | Good | $18,635 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $50,481 | 38 | $20,909 | Good | $12,452 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $50,414 | 78 | $23,000 | Good | $16,149 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $49,953 | 35 | $22,500 | Good | $16,958 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $42,366 | 30 | $21,500 | Manageable | $13,500 | High | |
| #8 | $41,215 | 26 | $18,500 | Manageable | $13,480 | High | |
| #9 | $39,639 | 23 | $21,503 | Manageable | $14,012 | High | |
| #10 | Lawrence UniversityPrivate | $39,224 | 17 | $26,000 | Challenging | $59,814 | High |
| #11 | Beloit CollegePrivate | $38,115 | 18 | $25,738 | Challenging | $32,004 | High |
| #12 | $32,569 | 7 | $21,977 | High | $15,000 | High | |
| #13 | Carthage CollegePrivate | $24,259 | 16 | $26,000 | High | $42,940 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
