University of Wisconsin Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)

Last updated: June 29, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) is a public research university in Madison, Wisconsin, enrolling about 36,902 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 45.20% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $73,792 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $11,603
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $17,354 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 45.20% Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 36,902 95.4% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 89.55%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 16.8%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price increase of 0.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 85.8%
  • Average SAT Score: 1427
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 41,069
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 63,505
  • Room & Board: $14,124 annual estimate

University of Wisconsin-Madison: what the data shows

Common questions about University of Wisconsin-Madison, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is University of Wisconsin-Madison?

University of Wisconsin-Madison is located in Madison, WI (ZIP 53706-1380).

NCES locale classification: City.

Is University of Wisconsin-Madison public or private?

University of Wisconsin-Madison is a Public institution.

How much does University of Wisconsin-Madison cost?

Published tuition: $11,603 in-state, $42,103 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $17,354.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$4,200
$30,001–$48,000$4,101
$48,001–$75,000$8,134
$75,001–$110,000$17,763
$110,001+$27,292

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $46,412.

How hard is it to get into University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Admission rate: 45.20%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1427 and midpoint ACT 29.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Total enrollment: 36,902 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 41,069 students.

Graduate enrollment: 13,004 students.

About 95% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?

150%-time completion rate: 89.55%.

First-year retention: 96.2%.

What do graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn?

Median earnings: $61,275 six years after entry; $73,792 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,484.

15.94% of students receive Pell grants.

What is University of Wisconsin-Madison known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is University of Wisconsin-Madison a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 45.20%; completion rate 89.55%; median earnings $73,792 at 10 years; net price $17,354. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$11,603
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison was $11,603.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$17,354
2024 Value

In 2024 University of Wisconsin-Madison had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,354.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$69,416 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$17,354 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$46,412 4-Year In-State Tuition

$168,412 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$14,124 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,100 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$26,827 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$107,308 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Financial Aid by Income Level

15.94% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

20.38% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Wisconsin-Madison was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Wisconsin-Madison in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$10,403$26,653$18,387
2014$10,410$26,660$18,397
2015$10,415$29,665$19,378
2016$10,488$32,738$19,320
2017$10,533$34,783$19,880
2018$10,555$36,805$18,219
2019$10,725$37,785$17,708
2020$10,742$38,630$17,234
2021$10,720$38,608$16,708
2022$10,796$39,427$16,834
2023$11,205$40,603$16,928

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

45.20% Acceptance Rate

63,505 Total Applicants

27,529 Students Admitted

7,964 First-Time Students Enrolled

28.93% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1427

ACT Average: 29

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.7 - 3.9

Estimated Median GPA: 3.80

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

University of Wisconsin-Madison reported total enrollment of about 36,902 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (59.1%), Asian (10.9%), and Non-Resident Alien (10.2%). About 15.94% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 16.8% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

95.4% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024 is 36,902 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 41,069 students. Graduate enrollment is about 13,004 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

96.2%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 59.1%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

75.16% 100% Completion Time

89.55% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 75.16% of students graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Computer and Information Sciences, General: 80% male / 20% female
  • Data Science, General: 69% male / 31% female
  • Economics, General: 70% male / 30% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Return on Investment

$20,484 Median Student Debt

$73,792 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

27.76% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

963.04% Return on Investment

2.8 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 247 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 1,252 completions

2. Data Science, General: 632 completions

3. Economics, General: 627 completions

4. Psychology, General: 548 completions

5. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 506 completions

6. Finance, General: 426 completions

7. Political Science and Government, General: 370 completions

8. Mathematics, General: 362 completions

9. Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies: 360 completions

Most popular programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of Wisconsin-Madison from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 85.8%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $15,643
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $21,417

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public institution located in Madison, WI, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Computer and Information Sciences, General, Data Science, General, Economics, General. Enrollment is approximately 36,902 students. Student body composition includes White (59.1%), Asian (10.9%), Non-Resident Alien (10.2%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 45.20%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1427. The 150%-time completion rate is 89.55%. Approximately 15.94% of students receive Pell Grants. About 16.8% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Location

Madison, WI 53706-1380

Region: Great Lakes

Insights and Analysis

Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 89.55% graduation rate, University of Wisconsin-Madison demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 247 distinct degree programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is UW-Madison located?

University of Wisconsin-Madison is located in Madison, WI. The institution is also known as UW-Madison.

What is UW-Madison's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) is 45.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 63,505 applicants and 27,529 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does UW-Madison cost?

Reported tuition is $11,603 and average net price is $17,354 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,124 annually.

What is the student body demographics at UW-Madison?

University of Wisconsin-Madison reports undergraduate enrollment of about 41,069 students, White (59.1%), Asian (10.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend UW-Madison?

About 16.8% of students at University of Wisconsin-Madison are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Wisconsin-Madison reports midpoint SAT about 1427 and midpoint ACT about 29.

What do graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn?

Median earnings are $61,275 six years after entry and $73,792 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?

The 150%-time completion rate is 89.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do University of Wisconsin-Madison students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,484.

Is University of Wisconsin-Madison public or private?

University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public institution located in Madison, WI.

Is University of Wisconsin-Madison an HBCU?

No. University of Wisconsin-Madison is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is University of Wisconsin-Madison a tribal college?

No. University of Wisconsin-Madison is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Madison, Wisconsin city profile
  • Great Lakes regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Wisconsin

    • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.