University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison is very difficult to get into. The university admitted 49% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 60,260 applications received in 2023, 29,546 students were offered admission.

If you are considering submitting an application to University of Wisconsin-Madison, the regular decision application deadline is January 15 and the application fee is $60.

Students who submit their applications to University of Wisconsin-Madison for fall semester should anticipate a decision by March 31.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of University of Wisconsin-Madison's admissions stats.

University of Wisconsin-Madison 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.9
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	54%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	18%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	38%
Waitlist	Yes

University of Wisconsin-Madison Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	Yes	November 1	January 31
Regular Decision	Yes	1 15	March 31

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Considering Applying Early to University of Wisconsin-Madison?

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University of Wisconsin-Madison does not offer early decision but does offer early action.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. University of Wisconsin-Madison will release EA admissions decisions no later than January 31.

Some students apply to college early because they hope it will help their chances of getting in. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of admission, since it demonstrates that you are very interested in a school.

➡️ Find a list of some selective colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on University of Wisconsin-Madison Admissions

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Transferring to University of Wisconsin-Madison

It is moderately difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to University of Wisconsin-Madison

In 2022, University of Wisconsin-Madison waitlisted 6,449 students and 4,006 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 11 eventually got in.

What Does University of Wisconsin-Madison Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the admissions factors where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Wondering what factors are considered by University of Wisconsin-Madison during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Application Essay	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
State Residency	Important
Class Rank	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
First Generation	Considered

Make sure to check with University of Wisconsin-Madison for more information on admission factors.

University of Wisconsin-Madison 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to University of Wisconsin-Madison, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with University of Wisconsin-Madison's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	–	2	–	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Students admitted to University of Wisconsin-Madison have an average unweighted GPA of 3.9.

Out of all students that were admitted, 27% submitted a class rank. At University of Wisconsin-Madison 54% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 87% were in the top 25% and 99% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At University of Wisconsin-Madison, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	48%
3.75 and 3.99	34%
3.50 and 3.74	13%
3.25 and 3.49	4%
3.00 and 3.24	1%
2.50 and 2.9	–
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to University of Wisconsin-Madison directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

University of Wisconsin-Madison has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 18% of University of Wisconsin-Madison's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 38% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for University of Wisconsin-Madison?

To be competitive with other University of Wisconsin-Madison applicants, you should strive to score between 1370 and 1500 (or higher!) on the SAT. At University of Wisconsin-Madison 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1500 and 25% of scored lower than 1370, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of University of Wisconsin-Madison students scored 780 or higher and 75% of students scored 660 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of University of Wisconsin-Madison students scored 730 or higher, and 75% scored a 660 or higher.

To be most competitive at University of Wisconsin-Madison, you should strive to earn between 28 and 33 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 33 means you fall in the 75th percentile for University of Wisconsin-Madison's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 33, and three out of four students scored lower than 33 on the ACT.

A 28 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for University of Wisconsin-Madison students. Only one out of every four students scored below 28.

More Information on Transferring to University of Wisconsin-Madison

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to University of Wisconsin-Madison.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 1. Applicants should hear back by April 30.

Transfer students can enroll in University of Wisconsin-Madison during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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University of Wisconsin-Madison Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to University of Wisconsin-Madison?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Does University of Wisconsin-Madison accept transfer credits?

✅ University of Wisconsin-Madison accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. University of Wisconsin-Madison accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does University of Wisconsin-Madison accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ University of Wisconsin-Madison accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to University of Wisconsin-Madison?

❌ No, University of Wisconsin-Madison is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you should strongly consider submitting them. If you scored lower than a school's average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.

What is University of Wisconsin-Madison's acceptance rate?

✅ University of Wisconsin-Madison's acceptance rate is 49%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?

❌ University of Wisconsin-Madison does not offer early decision.

Want To Learn More About University of Wisconsin-Madison?

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