University of Wisconsin-Madison: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Madison, Wisconsin · Public · Selective · CDS 2024-2025
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University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public university in Madison, Wisconsin that admits about 45% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $17,354 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer and Information Sciences, General, Economics and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 90% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Wisconsin-Madison admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 45%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1400 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,354 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of Wisconsin-Madison right now
The University of Wisconsin-Madison, founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved statehood, is the flagship of the UW System and a public land-grant research university on the shores of Lake Mendota. With about 50,000 students, Madison is a Big Ten member and a charter member of the Association of American Universities, and it consistently ranks among the top public universities for research expenditures. Parents often associate UW-Madison with the Wisconsin Idea, the principle that the university's work should benefit the entire state, and that ethos shapes everything from outreach programs to its strong undergraduate research culture. Distinctive academic strengths include the Wisconsin School of Business, where the Direct Admit program lets first-year applicants enter the business major directly, the College of Engineering, and renowned departments in dairy and food science, communication arts, and political science. For application strategy, UW-Madison reviews applications through the Universities of Wisconsin shared application or the Common Application and has continued a test-optional policy for first-year applicants in recent cycles, while still considering submitted scores. Bucky's Tuition Promise, expanded in 2023 and 2024, covers four years of tuition and segregated fees for admitted Wisconsin residents from households below a defined income threshold, an important affordability anchor for in-state families. Out-of-state admit rates have tightened as application volume has grown, so parents should plan early visits and rigorous coursework accordingly.
What GPA does my child need for University of Wisconsin-Madison?
53% of enrolled students at University of Wisconsin-Madison had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does University of Wisconsin-Madison weight in admissions?
University of Wisconsin-Madison reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Character/personal qualities
- • State residency
SAT and ACT scores University of Wisconsin-Madison typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 680. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1370 |
| 50th percentile | 1400 |
| 75th percentile | 1490 |
| % submitting SAT | 14.7% |
| 25th percentile | 29 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 33 |
| % submitting ACT | 35.1% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 53.8% |
| Top 25% of class | 86.9% |
| Top 50% of class | 98.8% |
| % submitting class rank | 27.3% |
How much does University of Wisconsin-Madison actually cost?
Published tuition is $11,603 for in-state students and $42,103 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,124 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $17,354 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $17,354 |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Wisconsin-Madison
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Notification date | March 31 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Wisconsin-Madison?
These predict outcomes at University of Wisconsin-Madison better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Economics and Psychology, General. Across all programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison confers roughly 3,515 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer and Information Sciences, General program report a median income of about $118,588 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 733 | $118,588 |
| Economics | 546 | $84,958 |
| Psychology, General | 495 | $61,607 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 463 | $106,484 |
| Biology, General | 389 | $68,812 |
| Political Science and Government | 348 | $68,593 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 293 | — |
| Marketing | 248 | $99,093 |
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Wisconsin-Madison disclosed 150 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 41 violent offenses and 52 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
About 25% of undergraduates at University of Wisconsin-Madison live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 9% of men join a fraternity and 8% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Wisconsin parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for University of Wisconsin-Madison
Common questions parents ask about University of Wisconsin-Madison
What GPA do I need for University of Wisconsin-Madison?
53% of enrolled students at University of Wisconsin-Madison had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Wisconsin-Madison typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 680. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Madison actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Wisconsin-Madison after grants and scholarships is $17,354 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $11,603 and $42,103 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison realistic for my child?
University of Wisconsin-Madison admits 45% of applicants, so 710–780 SAT Math is target range and below 710 is a reach. Then check the $17,354 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
University of Wisconsin-Madison accepts about 45% of applicants out of roughly 65,933 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison test-optional?
Yes. University of Wisconsin-Madison is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
About 90% of students at University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate within six years. 96% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Wisconsin-Madison look for in applicants?
University of Wisconsin-Madison rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin.
What are the most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison by annual graduates are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Economics and Psychology, General. The school awards about 3,515 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Wisconsin-Madison reported 150 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
At University of Wisconsin-Madison, 25% of undergraduates live on campus, 9% of men are in fraternities, 8% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Wisconsin-Madison, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers