University of Wisconsin-Madison: the complete school report for parents

What does University of Wisconsin-Madison actually weigh in admissions?

University of Wisconsin-Madison rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 4 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is University of Wisconsin-Madison's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

54% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. The average was 3.91 on a 4 scale, reported for 94% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

What is the University of Wisconsin-Madison waitlist really like?

University of Wisconsin-Madison offered a place on its waiting list to 6,476 applicants and 4,317 accepted one. 1,088 were ultimately admitted. That is 25.2% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

University of Wisconsin-Madison admitted 56.7% of 4,677 transfer applicants, against 40.8% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

University of Wisconsin-Madison reports its early rounds below.

What does my child need to take in high school?

University of Wisconsin-Madison requires 17 academic units and recommends 22. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.

What will University of Wisconsin-Madison actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $17,354 a year at University of Wisconsin-Madison after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $10,717. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 92% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 650 merit awards averaging $7,397 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

What families at each income level actually paid:

33% of University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $28,931 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $217 a month in repayment. University of Wisconsin-Madison’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison pay off?

Graduates earn a median $73,792 ten years after entering, and $61,275 at six years. 90% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 84% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:

A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.

$145,337 to $36,657, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at University of Wisconsin-Madison:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

96% of first-years return for a second year. 76% graduate within four years and 90% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 85.7% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 91.2% of everyone else, a gap of 5.5 points.

How big are the classes?

45% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 11% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 18:1, and 86% of faculty are full-time. Both are true at once: 11% of sections seat 100 or more, and those are the introductory lectures. Accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

What is life at University of Wisconsin-Madison like?

39,193 undergraduates, 52% of first-years from out of state. 94% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 25% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 9% of men join a fraternity and 8% of women a sorority. 17% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $71,185.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. University of Wisconsin-Madison recommends 22 academic units.
• 54% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above, averaging 3.91. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 1,088 of 4,317 who waited were admitted, about 25%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $145,337 five years out against $36,657 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about University of Wisconsin-Madison

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