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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.
Located in Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 45%. The freshman retention rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison is 96.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 90%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is February 1.
To find out more about what University of Wisconsin-Madison has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
39,083
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
90%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you discover as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. Discover some important information about admission policy and requirements at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 29,784 in 2025. University of Wisconsin-Madison has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides 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. This eminent institution with a rich history offers an unparalleled learning experience to its students.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 14.7% and ACT scores 35.1%. 67.3% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 31.1% between 1,200 and 1,399, 1.4% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 0.2% between 800 and 999. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 66.1, 32.2 between 24-29 and 1.7 in the range between 18-23.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.9. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. If you are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is February 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for University of Wisconsin-Madison was 96.1% in 2025, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 90%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the best match for you. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 52,097 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 46% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 39,083, 3782 of which were foreign students. 1,373 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 21,517 male and 24,798 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 4,042 Asian students and 913 Afro-American students in 2025. 3,143 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1,815 as multirace. The school also had 18 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 82 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 1,295 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $10,506.48, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $42,530.88 in 2025. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $43,530.96. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,659.98.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $42,531 | $1,660 | $44,190 |
| In-State | $10,506 | $1,660 | $12,166 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial element. The approximate price 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 colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at University of Wisconsin-Madison was $13,000 per academic year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $8,400, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 10,506 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,000 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,100 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,606 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial aid for students. If you wish 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 2,814 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $25,909.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
8,954 students were granted 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 came to be 10,876. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $44,183,661, and state $15,907,355. The students of University of Wisconsin-Madison received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $146,719,693, and external in the amount of $7,379,772.
$7,247
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. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 751 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 198 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $44,183,661 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $128,962. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $24,317,541. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $15,950,097 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
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)
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at University of Wisconsin-Madison was 18:1. That means that there were 18 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 3,271 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 1,757 male and 1,514 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at University of Wisconsin-Madison is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some information about students' life at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
There are 1059 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. 9 percent of male and 8 of female students are participants in different organizations at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Those interested in music can join the University of Wisconsin-Madison band. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students looking to explore media and communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a number of services important for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs 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 everything most students need.
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 school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career.
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 uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of Wisconsin-Madison is 45%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for University of Wisconsin-Madison is 96.1%.
Contact Information
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.