Key differences on Getting in
- 1
U. Wisconsin-Madison's SAT midpoint is 110 points higher than Purdue's
SAT midpoint - 2
U. Wisconsin-Madison's yield is 3 pts higher than Purdue's
Yield rate - 3
Purdue admits 43% vs. 45% at U. Wisconsin-Madison
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- PurdueVery selective
- U. Wisconsin-MadisonVery selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1100–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 23–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- PurdueTest scores required
- U. Wisconsin-MadisonTest-optional
How they read a record
Purdue
and GPA are both very important; tests are important; class rank is considered. 71% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
U. Wisconsin-Madison
GPA, the high school record, and a college-prep program are required; class rank is considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Purdue | U. Wisconsin-Madison |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Required |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Considered |
| College-prep program | Considered | Required |
| Recommendations | Important | Required |
| Essay | Very important | Required |
| Legacy status | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:Purdue University-Main Campus (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Purdue University-Main Campus Common Data Set, 2024-25;Purdue University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Purdue University-Main Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;University of Wisconsin-Madison (Fall 2026), Fall 2026;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why