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Photography Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026

Photography degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$45K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$46K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6.8 yrs

in Madison

Cost of Living

89

index (100 = avg)

Photography in Madison, WI Overview

Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Photography programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Although national enrollment in Photography has been declining, graduates with skills in Lighting and Post-Processing remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $44,500.

Category

Arts & Design

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%

Photography Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$44,500($-5,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$46,280($-5,720 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$57,850($-7,150 vs national)

Note: National average Photography salary: $50,000 starting, $52,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.

Photography ROI Calculator for Madison

Estimate your return on investment for a Photography 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

$13,350

vs HS diploma in Madison

ROI Payback Period

6.8 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Madison

$16,132

Lifetime earnings premium ($106,800) minus total education cost ($90,668)

Student Loan Payoff for Photography in Madison

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$90,668
Monthly Payment$1,030
Total Interest$32,874
% of Monthly Income28%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$90,668
Monthly Payment$1,774
Total Interest$15,773
Interest Savings$17,101

Colleges in Madison for Photography

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 Photography in Madison

Madison offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Photography graduates. National top employers in this field include:

Self-EmployedMedia CompaniesAdvertising AgenciesStudiosFashion Industry

Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design

Design agencies

Studios

Tech companies

Advertising firms

Media companies

Common Photography Job Titles

PhotographerPhoto EditorPhotojournalistStudio Manager

Photography 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 Photography ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Madison.

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