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.
Race & ethnicity
Diversity index0.62
Economic access
Campus size
Where first-years come from
8,514 first-time students
46% came from other states and 8.9% from abroad; 45% are from Wisconsin. More from other states than at 77% of colleges.
- In-state (Wisconsin)45%
- Other states46%
- Abroad8.9%
Top home states
- Wisconsin(home state)45% 3,797
- Illinois12% 997
- Minnesota10.0% 851
- California5.3% 449
- New York3.1% 264
From 49 states (counting DC) and 8 from U.S. territories.
Students starting college for the first time, by where they lived when admitted. Colleges report it every other fall.
Transfers in and out
Transferring in, fall 2024
1,373
new transfer students, 14% of new undergraduates. A larger transfer share than at 23% of colleges.
1,324 full-time, 49 part-time.
Going on to another college
6.7%
of students who entered in fall 2016 had left without a degree and were enrolled at another college 8 years later (about 524 students).
Federal data doesn't count students leaving in a given year; this follows one entering class.
Who they are
4.6% of undergrads study part-time.
53% women
Another gender: Fewer than 10 undergraduates
Degree-seeking undergraduates. Men and women add up to 100% because federal data has colleges count each student of another or unknown gender as a man or a woman.
Campus life
Housing, sports, faith, Greek life, and LGBTQ+ life
Housing for 8,949 students.
Housing
Beds
8,949
About 24 for every 100 undergrads (median college: 59). Can include graduate housing.
First-years
Not required to live on campus
Many colleges still expect it, with exceptions such as for local students.
Meal plans
Offered
Athletics & programs
Athletics
NCAA Division I FBS · Big Ten Conference
Of the four sports the federal survey asks about, it plays football, basketball, cross country/track.
How the Big Ten Conference comparesROTC
Army, Navy, Air Force
Study abroad
Offered
Undergraduate research
A formal program
Calendar
Semesters
Student services
- Academic and career counseling
- Help finding a job while enrolled
- Job placement after graduating
- On-campus child care for students' children
- 11% of undergrads registered with disability services· Disability services office
Religious life
Faith communities · 4
- Jewish 1
- Catholic 1
- Christian 1
- Nonreligious and secular 1
Nonreligious and secular
Atheists, Humanists, and Agnostics at University of Wisconsin Madison
Greek life
On the national organizations' own chapter lists.
Councils and chapters
2listedPanhellenic sororities (NPC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
Wisconsin Alpha
Alpha Nu
3listedInterfraternity (NIC and IFC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
LGBTQ+ life
Support on campus
Founded 1997
Policies
- Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression
- Gender-inclusive housing
- Chosen name and pronouns on campus records
- Gender-inclusive restrooms listed online
- Student health plan covers transition-related care
Listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse, read October 2026; not confirmed by the college.
Undergraduates of another gender, fall 2024
Fewer than 10 undergraduates
Gender unknown: 0
First-year applicants of another gender, fall 2024
Not reported: the college records other genders but leaves these counts blank when any is under 5, for privacy.
Colleges record gender so differently that these counts can't be compared between colleges.
Sources:College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education), Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)