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University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
The University of Wisconsin-Madison, located in Madison, Wisconsin, is often considered one of the top public research universities in the United States. Established in 1848, it is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System and offers a wide range of academic programs across various fields. With its sprawling campus spread over 936 acres, UW-Madison provides a vibrant and lively atmosphere for its diverse student population of over 45,000.
Academically, UW-Madison boasts a strong reputation for its research programs, particularly in the fields of agriculture, business, engineering, health sciences, and humanities. The university offers more than 130 undergraduate majors, giving students the opportunity to explore and specialize in their areas of interest. Additionally, UW-Madison is known for its strong graduate programs, offering over 150 master's and doctoral degree programs.
Beyond its academic offerings, UW-Madison provides its students with a rich and vibrant campus life. The university hosts more than 900 student organizations covering various interests, hobbies, and areas of study. Students can immerse themselves in cultural, athletic, social, and academic activities to enhance their overall college experience. The university's athletic teams, known as the Wisconsin Badgers, compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference, and sporting events can be a major source of school spirit and camaraderie among students. With its top-notch academics and lively campus, the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a well-rounded college experience for students seeking a prestigious education in a vibrant community.
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public university located in Madison, WI and set in an urban environment. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 43%. The freshman retention rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison is 95% and the six-year graduation rate is 89%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 16. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Quick Facts
37,817
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
43%
Acceptance Rate
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
89%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most relevant data you need to know about admission policy and requirements at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 27,527 in 2024. University of Wisconsin-Madison has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unparalleled educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 16% and ACT scores 38%. 67% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 31% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 2% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 62, 36 between 24-29 and 2 in the range between 18-23.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.9. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
The last day for submitting applications to this school is January 16. If you plan on applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is March 1.
43%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for University of Wisconsin-Madison was 95% in 2024, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 89%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the school enrolled 50,633 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 49. There was a total of 37,817 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 3,569 international students. The school reported to have a total of 1,129 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 20,974 male and 23,990 female full-time students in 2024. There were 4,894 full-time graduate male and 5,522 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 3,749, and the number of Afro-American students was 892. 2,965 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,702 as multirace. The school also had 22 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 86 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 1,156 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some important data on University of Wisconsin-Madison costs that most students encounter at this school.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,100.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
In 2024, room and board cost at University of Wisconsin-Madison amounted to $14,124 a year.
| Room and Board | $ 14,124 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,100 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of Wisconsin-Madison, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 2,737 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $21,316.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
9,007 students obtained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at University of Wisconsin-Madison isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 11,438. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $34,153,687, and state $13,472,576. The students of University of Wisconsin-Madison received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $115,758,114, and external in the amount of $7,035,906.
$7,571
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,020 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024. 283 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $34,153,687 while the state aid is $224,236. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $22,411,336. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $14,264,430 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
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UW-Madison Online Spring 2025
UW-Madison Online Spring 2025
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Spring
Application Deadline: 2025-02-15
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UW-Madison Online Summer 2025
UW-Madison Online Summer 2025
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Summer
Application Deadline: 2025-04-15
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UW-Madison Online Fall 2025
UW-Madison Online Fall 2025
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Fall
Application Deadline: 2025-07-15
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2024, this ratio at University of Wisconsin-Madison was 9:1. That means that there were 9 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 298 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 109 male and 189 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at University of Wisconsin-Madison: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
It has a campus size of 936 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 958 open-membership organizations at University of Wisconsin-Madison. That includes sororities and fraternities. 9 percent of male and 8 of female students participate in different organizations at University of Wisconsin-Madison. If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Wisconsin-Madison band or chorus. For individuals with a penchant for acting, there is a drama club offering an opportunity to get involved. You have a talent for media and communication? University of Wisconsin-Madison publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At University of Wisconsin-Madison, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of University of Wisconsin-Madison.
All in all, campus life at University of Wisconsin-Madison is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Career Counselling
At University of Wisconsin-Madison, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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University of Wisconsin-Madison is located in Madison, WI.
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University of Wisconsin-Madison doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for University of Wisconsin-Madison is 43%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for University of Wisconsin-Madison is 95%.
Contact Information
University of Wisconsin-Madison,
161 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI
53706-1380
608 262-1234
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.