Business Administration Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Business Administration degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.4 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Business Administration in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Business Administration programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Business Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Leadership and Strategic Planning. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $51,620, growing to $78,320 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Business Administration Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Business Administration ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,470
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
4.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$487,832
Lifetime earnings premium ($578,500) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Business Administration
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Business Administration in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Business Administration Job Titles
Business Administration in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$55K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$50K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$61K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$50K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$46K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$52K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$50K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$62K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Madison
Business Analytics
$69K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$45K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$45K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$45K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration Degree in Madison — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Business Administration ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Madison.