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University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Large city · Carnegie R1/R2 · UWM

Public institution in Madison, WI · 35,665 undergraduates · 43% acceptance rate · $73,792 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$16,928817th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$11,205703rd cheapest of 2,024 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$40,6031,631st cheapest of 2,024 reporting
Cost of attendance
$27,770850th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
Median graduate debt
$20,484676th lowest of 1,865 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$73,792220th highest of 1,954 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$61,275224th highest of 1,950 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
89.3%89th highest of 2,014 reporting
Full-time retention
94.5%137th highest of 1,837 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
43.4%203rd most selective of 1,596 reporting
Average SAT
140298th highest of 1,022 reporting
Median ACT
29132nd highest of 952 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates
35,66527th largest of 2,144 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
18.0:11,696th smallest of 2,141 reporting
Pell Grant share
15.3%1,904th highest of 2,122 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 108 mi (ORD)

On 4 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
Yes
Application fee
$80
Personal essay
Required
Writing supplement
No

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

Source: Aristotle Circle 2025-26 supplemental prompt roundup

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 99 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Computer EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$83,768$81,997
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBusinessbachelors$79,977$78,814
Chemical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$75,413$73,378
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Sciencebachelors$74,325$75,282
Real EstateBusinessbachelors$73,112$73,949
Mechanical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$71,605$71,633
Industrial EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$71,509$72,895
Materials EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$69,338$66,941
InsuranceBusinessbachelors$68,563$66,821
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$68,079$68,379
Civil EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$66,192$67,450
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professionsbachelors$63,749$64,769

Campus facts

Athletics — 12 sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $18,628,785 (M $10,704,429 · W $7,924,356)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.

Nearest undergraduate enrollment to University of Wisconsin-Madison’s 35,665 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.

In WI

Elsewhere