University of Wisconsin – Madison

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Madison, WI

$9,273

Avg in-state tuition

$37,161

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About University of Wisconsin – Madison

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

The University of Wisconsin – Madison is a large public university located on an urban campus in Madison, Wisconsin. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 32,688, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 57%. The university offers 129 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 88%, and a student-faculty ratio of 16:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $9,273, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $37,161.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

57% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

Students remain enrolled in this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This typically means students are happy with their school selection and wish to continue their education there.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

95% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

Students graduate from this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This is typically an indication of a school's quality and means most students finish their degree in a timely manner.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

88% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Considered (not required)

High school transcript Required

High school rank Recommended

Letter of recommendation Required

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.

While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 27-32

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1260-1460

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

45k

Students enrolled

93%

Online student enrollment

16:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

65%

Non-U.S. Citizen

13%

Asian

7%

Hispanic

6%

Unknown

3%

Two or more races

3%

Black

2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

52%

Socio-economic diversity

14% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

11

Total Online Enrollment

41,428

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

98% On-campus

2% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 1% online

Graduate Certificate X Bold Not offered

Master's Check Bold 7% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $9,273 $37,161
Graduate $10,728 $24,054

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,150
On-campus room and board $12,200
On-campus other expenses $3,066
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $12,200
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $3,066
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $3,066

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $25,689 $53,577
Off-campus without family $25,689 $53,577
Off-campus with family $13,489 $41,377

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

15%

State Grant Aid

14%

Institution Grant Aid

31%

Pell Grant

14%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,158
State Grant Aid $2,630
Institution Grant Aid $11,630
Pell Grant Aid $4,591

Financial Outlook

$21k

Average student debt after graduation

$50k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FBS

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Ice Hockey
  • Rowing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

2

Architecture And Related Services

BA

MA

DOC

3

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

4

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

5

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

6

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

7

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

8

Education

BA

MA

DOC

9

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

10

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

11

Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

BA

MA

DOC