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Colleges / University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI 4-Year Public
Acceptance Rate60%
Acceptance Rate60%

About UW Madison

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, or UW, is a prominent public research university situated on a beautiful lakeside campus in Madison, Wisconsin. UW offers an array of well-regarded undergraduate and graduate programs, a plethora of research opportunities, and a vibrant campus with a thriving arts and culture scene. A typical UW student is active in extracurriculars, passionate about supporting their sports teams–the Badgers–and thrilled to be a UW student. 

The UW community is guided by the “Wisconsin Idea,” or the principle that education should influence peoples' lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. The Wisconsin Idea encourages the community to find ways to use their education to give back locally, nationally, and to the broader world. 

UW is a big school, but first year students looking for a more intimate learning environment have the unique opportunity to participate in a First-Year Interest Group (FIG). FIGs are offered in a variety of different subjects, and bring a small cohort of students together to explore a common theme over three connected courses.

UW athletics are characterized by fierce competition and loyal, spirited fans. The Badgers compete against rivals like Northwestern, Ohio State, and UMich as members of the Big Ten Conference

Did You Know? 

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is home to the world’s first dairy school. The Babcock Hall Dairy Plant has been serving up delicious, creamy ice cream and dairy products on the UW Campus since 1951. Babcock now processes over 2 millions pounds of milk a year, and chocolate milk is its best seller! Some UW students say it’s even a tradition for graduates to have a scoop of ice cream before leaving campus. 

The CC Community on UW-Madison:

"Great college town atmosphere, kids seemed genuinely happy to be there. Facilities are a mix of old and new, but a huge range of very good programs. Madison is just the right size–not too small to be claustrophobic, but not too big to get swept away by city life. Good for a self-motivated kid, but it could also be overwhelming for some."

Read More

University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public, state institution in the city of Madison, Wisconsin. UW Madison was founded in 1848. The college enrolls around 47,932 students per year, including 35,474 undergraduate students.

UW Madison Acceptance Rate

It is very difficult to get into UW Madison. Around 60% of applicants get into UW Madison each year. In 2022, 53,829 students applied to UW Madison and 32,466 were admitted.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Admissions Facts At-A-Glance
Overall Acceptance Rate 60%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate ED not offered
Early Action Acceptance Rate EA Offered but % not available
Average GPA 3.9
Test Optional Yes
Applicants Submitting SAT scores 15%

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

University of Wisconsin-Madison Community Forums

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UW Madison Campus Tours

University of Wisconsin-Madison is locatedin the city of Madison, Wisconsin, in the city of Milwaukee.

If you want to see UW Madison for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 90/94 to Madison, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Dane County Regional.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what University of Wisconsin-Madison and Madison are like without leaving home.

College Info

161 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive Madison, WI 53706-1380

Campus Setting: Urban

UW Madison Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 15

Transfer Applications are Due

Mar 1

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to UW Madison is Jan 15.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to UW Madison is Mar 1.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

UW Madison SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1350 - 1480

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Math SAT Range

690 - 780

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Reading SAT Range

650 - 730

UW Madison Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$26,363

In State

$54,994

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$10,796
$39,427
Fees
$1,523
$1,523
Housing
$12,894
$12,894
Books
$1,150
$1,150

Student Life

Wondering what life at UW Madison is like? There are approximately 47,932 students enrolled at UW Madison, including 35,474 undergraduate students and 12,458 graduate students. 90% percent of students attend school full-time, 58% percent are from WI and 42% percent of students are from other states.

90%

Full Time

10%

Part Time

58%

In State

42%

Out-of-State

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

47,932

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

60%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$12,319

Out-of-State

$40,950

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 15
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