Quad

Head-to-head

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    U. Wisconsin-Madison's SAT midpoint is 85 points higher than Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State's

    SAT midpoint
  2. 2

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State grads earn $7.9K more ten years out than U. Wisconsin-Madison's ($81,698 vs. $73,792)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  3. 3

    U. Wisconsin-Madison's yield is 3 pts higher than Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State's

    Yield rate
  4. 4

    U. Wisconsin-Madison admits 45% vs. 55% at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State

    Acceptance rate
  5. 5

    U. Wisconsin-Madison costs about $2.1K less per year on average than Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State ($37,931 vs. $40,019, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  6. 6

    U. Wisconsin-Madison is a bit larger (36,902 vs. 30,923)

    Undergrads

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

U. Wisconsin-Madison admits 45%, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State 55%; U. Wisconsin-Madison's yield is higher, at 29%.

Acceptance rate
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State55%
U. Wisconsin-Madison45%
Quad's selectivity
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateVery selective
  • U. Wisconsin-MadisonVery selective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1200–1600
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
1280–1450
U. Wisconsin-Madison
1380–1520
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateGPA and school record required
  • U. Wisconsin-MadisonGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

U. Wisconsin-Madison is a bit larger than Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State (36,902 vs. 30,923 undergrads) and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State30.9K
U. Wisconsin-Madison36.9K
Pell Grant share
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State15%
U. Wisconsin-Madison16%

Majors and faculty

Management Science leads at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State, and Computer and Information Sciences at U. Wisconsin-Madison.

Students per faculty member
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State17 to 1
U. Wisconsin-Madison18 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateManagement Science8%
  • U. Wisconsin-MadisonComputer and Information Sciences, General8%

What each costs

U. Wisconsin-Madison costs about $2.1K less a year than Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State$40K
U. Wisconsin-Madison$37.9K
Aid generosity
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State12%
U. Wisconsin-Madison14%

What each pays off

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State's former students earn more, a median $81.7K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 80% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State$81.7K
U. Wisconsin-Madison$73.8K
Graduation rate
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State87%
U. Wisconsin-Madison89%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; both got more selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateGrowing+153%
  • U. Wisconsin-MadisonGrowing+159%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why