Quad

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WIQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forTop test scoresBig campusBig endowment per studentHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2026: 79,600 applied (fall 2024: 65,894)University of Wisconsin-Madison (Fall 2026)

Source:University of Wisconsin-Madison (Fall 2026), Fall 2026About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2026

1 in 2 applicants admitted

U. Wisconsin-Madison admits about 1 in 2 applicants (45%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 86% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

45%

45%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

79,600

Admitted

29,782

Yield

29%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1380–1520

10001600
ACT middle 50%

29–33

1836
Applications +159% since fall 2014 · admit rate 57% → 45%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A very large campus of 36,902 undergrads, where 16% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

36.9K

undergrads · larger than 99% of colleges

Diversity index

0.62

Pell Grant

16%

below the median

First generation

17%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-I FBS · Big Ten ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.39 → 0.62 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer and Information Sciences, General (8% of graduates). 18 students for every faculty member, more than at 83% of colleges. 86% of faculty are full-time. Spends $21,417 a year on instruction per student.

18 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 83% of colleges

Most popular major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

8% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Real Estate

$120.5K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

86%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$21.4K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $37,931 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $13.6K more than the national median. The 35% who received grants paid $14,235 on average; the other 65% paid the full sticker price of $28,905 in-state / $58,303 out-of-state.

14%

$37.9K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $13.6K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$28,905 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 14% of full price

Federal loans

20%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost rising · +7% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $73,792 ten years after enrolling, more than at 86% of colleges; 89% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.1 years of that salary.

89%

89%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$73.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$20.5K

≈ $217/month for 10 years

Retention

96%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 84% → 90% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 11% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 7%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 159% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 57% to 45%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +7% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +159%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 57% → 45% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.39 → 0.62

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

55% admit · SAT 1365 · 30.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

58% admit · SAT 1365 · 20.4K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso public
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University of Massachusetts-Amherst

60% admit · SAT 1405 · 23.7K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso public
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Ohio State University-Main Campus

61% admit · SAT 1395 · 45.6K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Midwest
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    University of Wisconsin-Madison (Fall 2026)

    University of Wisconsin-Madison · Fall 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    University of Wisconsin-Madison (2026)

    University of Wisconsin-Madison · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 240444 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything