University of Wisconsin–Madison
Wisconsin's flagship on Lake Mendota, a top-five U.S. research spender that is test-optional through 2028.
- Acceptance rate
- 41%
- First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
- Students
- 51,822
- 37,198 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 18:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $45,518
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1848
About UW–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison was founded in 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state, and is the flagship of the Universities of Wisconsin. Its main campus of about 939 acres runs along the shore of Lake Mendota in the state capital, and in fall 2025 it enrolled 51,822 students, including 37,198 undergraduates. It has 14 schools and colleges, from the large College of Letters & Science and College of Engineering to the School of Business, School of Nursing and a new College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence.
UW–Madison is one of the biggest research universities in the country, ranked 5th nationally for research spending in 2024. James Thomson first isolated and cultured human embryonic stem cells here in 1998, and the university's tradition of the Wisconsin Idea holds that its research should improve life across the whole state. Undergraduate programs rank in the U.S. top 25 in business, computer science, economics, engineering, nursing and psychology, and the business school's real estate and risk management programs rank No. 1.
Admission is holistic and moderately selective: 30,167 of 73,912 applicants were admitted for fall 2025, and admitted students typically have unweighted GPAs between 3.8 and 4.0. It suits students who want a large, spirited Big Ten university with the depth of a research powerhouse, in a lively lakeside capital city.
Numen Lumen
“The divine within the universe, however manifested, is my light” — university motto
Why students choose UW–Madison
U.S. News 2027 ranks UW–Madison 8th among U.S. public universities and 34th overall, and ARWU 2026 places it 35th in the world.
Wisconsin families with household income of $65,000 or less get four years of free tuition and fees through Bucky's Tuition Promise.
The Wisconsin School of Business has the No. 1 undergraduate real estate and insurance/risk management programs in the U.S. (U.S. News 2027).
Two-thirds of Badgers graduate with no student loan debt, and 3,091 students studied or interned abroad in 2024-25.
Admissions
First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
30,167 admitted from 73,912 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Selectivity varies by residency: Wisconsin residents were admitted at about 56% (5,672 of 10,058), out-of-state applicants at 40% and international applicants at 32% (4,547 of 14,391).
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Non-binding; materials due November 9; decisions on or before January 31. Applicants may be admitted, denied or deferred to review mid-year grades.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 15, 2027
Materials due January 22; decisions on or before March 31.
UW–Madison's deadlines page lists November 1 (Early Action) and January 15 (Regular Decision) without years; the 2027 application is open. Applications and materials are due by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. There is no Early Decision plan.
How to apply
Common App or Universities of Wisconsin Application ($80 fee, waivers available); two essays (the main essay plus 'why UW–Madison and your chosen major'); self-reported or official course and grade information; one required letter of recommendation; optional SAT or ACT; first- and second-choice majors. Dance and music direct-entry applicants also audition.
What admissions looks for
- Academic strength: rigor of your high school record and your GPA are rated very important (CDS).
- Essays, recommendations, extracurricular involvement and character, all rated important.
- Talents, interests and unique perspectives you would add to the student body.
- Wisconsin residency, which is an important factor for this public flagship.
Tips for applying to UW–Madison
- 1 Apply Early Action by November 1: it is non-binding and you hear by January 31.
- 2 Answer the 'why UW–Madison and why this major' essay specifically; it is required of every applicant and is also used for scholarship review.
- 3 Decide on test scores carefully: the choice you make on the application is final, and UW–Madison uses your single best composite, not a superscore.
- 4 Pick a genuine second-choice major, since it is considered if you can't be offered your first choice.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of Wisconsin–Madison
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Bucky's Tuition Promise covers tuition and fees for four years for Wisconsin residents with household AGI of $65,000 or less, and Bucky's Pell Pathway meets full need without loans for Pell-eligible Wisconsin residents. Nearly 57% of undergraduates received financial aid in 2024-25. International students have limited scholarships, such as King-Morgridge for students from particular countries.
- $31,524 Wisconsin resident; $65,120 nonresident; $37,574 Minnesota reciprocity
- Estimated cost of attendance 2026-27
- Free tuition and fees (Bucky's Tuition Promise)
- Wisconsin families with AGI up to $65,000
- Nearly 57%
- Undergraduates receiving financial aid (2024-25)
- About two-thirds
- Graduates with no student loan debt
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Real Estate (Wisconsin School of Business)
Ranked No. 1 among U.S. undergraduate programs by U.S. News for the fifth year running (2027).
Risk Management and Insurance
Rose to No. 1 in the U.S. in U.S. News' 2027 undergraduate rankings.
Psychology
Ranked 8th overall and 4th among public universities by U.S. News 2027.
Economics
Ranked 19th overall and 5th among public universities by U.S. News 2027.
Engineering
A top-25 U.S. undergraduate program (U.S. News 2027); engineering students pay an estimated $3,200 tuition differential.
Research
- UW–Madison ranked 5th nationally for research expenditure in 2024.
- In 1998, UW–Madison's James Thomson first isolated and cultured human embryonic stem cells.
- The Wisconsin Idea, articulated in 1904, commits the university's research to improving health, the environment and agriculture across the state.
Schools & faculties
- College of Letters & Science
- College of Engineering
- College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
- College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence
- School of Business
- School of Education
- School of Human Ecology
- School of Nursing
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Medicine and Public Health
- Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
- Law School
College Scorecard: median earnings of $73,792 ten years after entry (and $61,275 six years after entry) for federally aided students. Average time to degree is 3.78 years (2024-25).
Student life
UW–Madison is a big Big Ten campus with a strong sense of place: Bascom Hill, the Memorial Union on Lake Mendota and game days at Camp Randall, where the whole stadium jumps to House of Pain's 'Jump Around' before the fourth quarter. 94% of first-years live in university housing, while most older students move into apartments around campus. Greek life is modest, with about 9% of men and 8% of women joining. The Badgers field 25 NCAA Division I sports, mainly in the Big Ten Conference.
- Jump Around at Camp Randall Stadium before the fourth quarter of home football games
- The Memorial Union, opened in 1928
- 25 NCAA Division I sports, mostly in the Big Ten Conference
- 3,091 students studied abroad, away or on international internships in 2024-25
Housing. 94% of first-year students live in university housing, compared with 25% of all undergraduates (CDS 2025-26).
Location
Madison is Wisconsin's capital, and the main campus sits partly on the isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, with the campus laid out along the city's street grid. It is a mid-sized city where the university is a dominant presence, with lakes on both sides of downtown and cold, snowy winters.
Nearest airport: Dane County Regional Airport (MSN)
Notable alumni
- JB John BardeenOnly person to win the Nobel Prize in Physics twice; bachelor's and master's in electrical engineering from Wisconsin
- FL Frank Lloyd WrightArchitect; studied civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin
- JM John MuirNaturalist and Sierra Club founder; took his first botany lesson at UW–Madison
- JC Joyce Carol OatesNovelist; M.A. from UW–Madison in 1961
- CB Carol BartzFormer CEO of Yahoo and Autodesk; bachelor's in computer science, 1971
- GA Gene AmdahlComputer architect behind the IBM System/360; studied theoretical physics at UW–Madison
- TB Tammy BaldwinU.S. Senator from Wisconsin; graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School
Frequently asked questions
What is UW–Madison's acceptance rate?
UW–Madison admitted 30,167 of 73,912 first-year applicants for fall 2025, about 41%. The rate was higher for Wisconsin residents (about 56%) and lower for international applicants (about 32%).
Is UW–Madison test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. SAT and ACT scores are optional for applicants through the spring 2028 term, and you won't be disadvantaged without them. If you submit, only your top composite counts.
When is the UW–Madison Early Action deadline?
November 1, 2026, with materials due November 9 and decisions by January 31. Regular Decision closes January 15, 2027.
How much does UW–Madison cost for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, estimated tuition and fees are $45,518 for nonresidents versus $12,532 for Wisconsin residents. The estimated total cost of attendance is $65,120 for nonresidents and $31,524 for residents.
What GPA do you need for UW–Madison?
UW–Madison says it typically sees unweighted academic GPAs between 3.8 and 4.0, and enrolled first-years in fall 2025 averaged 3.91.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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