University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public 4-year college in Madison, Wisconsin with 36,902 undergraduates. It admits 45% of applicants, costs an average of $16,600 a year after grants and graduates 90% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
University of Wisconsin-Madison acceptance rate and admissions
University of Wisconsin-Madison admitted 45% of applicants for fall 2024, about 1 in 2. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Considered but not required (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
The colored band is the middle 50% of enrolled students in fall 2024 (reading and writing 670 to 740, math 710 to 780). The tick marks the typical 4-year college. Check how your scores fit.
University of Wisconsin-Madison application deadlines 2026-27
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early action | Nov 1, 2026 (passed) |
| Regular decision | Jan 15, 2027 |
Next deadline: Regular decision, Jan 15, 2027. Application fee through the Common App: $80 for U.S. applicants. Confirm dates on University of Wisconsin-Madison’s admissions page; see every college on the deadline calendar.
Source: Common App 2026-27 first-year deadlines, fees and requirements grid, updated Sep 25, 2026.
University of Wisconsin-Madison tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $12,166 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $44,191 |
| On-campus housing and food (2025-26) | $14,520 |
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $29,943 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $16,600 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $16,600 a year after grants and scholarships, $13,343 less than the full cost of attendance. This figure covers in-state students.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students paying in-state tuition, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run University of Wisconsin-Madison's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
University of Wisconsin-Madison graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 90% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $80,330 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $18,375 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 23% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
University of Wisconsin-Madison majors and what graduates earn
University of Wisconsin-Madison awarded bachelor's degrees in 98 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from real estate ($120,483).
All 98 majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison
| Major | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate | 173 | $75,375 | $120,483 | $15,000 |
| Computer engineering | 107 | $90,524 | $120,068 | $15,000 |
| Computer and information sciences | 875 | $86,643 | $119,655 | $15,000 |
| Industrial engineering | 105 | $83,954 | $110,711 | $19,750 |
| Finance | 580 | $71,913 | $107,207 | $17,750 |
| International business | 45 | $72,575 | $106,783 | $16,724 |
| Business analytics and operations research | 61 | $84,089 | $106,521 | $15,949 |
| Insurance | 116 | $80,508 | $105,992 | $15,000 |
| Nuclear Engineering | 10 | n/a | $102,449 | n/a |
| Chemical engineering | 120 | $88,450 | $101,676 | $19,500 |
| Mathematics | 198 | $64,314 | $101,438 | $15,000 |
| Accounting | 123 | $69,389 | $101,390 | $19,500 |
| Business administration | 214 | $69,386 | $100,005 | $17,510 |
| Biomedical engineering | 115 | $79,909 | $99,762 | $21,500 |
| Statistics | 75 | $66,485 | $99,210 | $17,165 |
| Marketing | 243 | $67,255 | $96,148 | $15,750 |
| Mechanical engineering | 254 | $79,801 | $95,114 | $18,000 |
| Electrical engineering | 97 | $85,353 | $95,059 | $20,500 |
| Engineering Mechanics | 41 | $76,121 | $92,276 | $25,498 |
| Materials Engineering | 40 | $77,204 | $91,265 | $27,000 |
| Civil engineering | 89 | $71,989 | $87,691 | $18,500 |
| Nursing | 206 | $81,305 | $85,579 | $19,500 |
| Food Science and Technology | 16 | $57,824 | $85,445 | n/a |
| Economics | 590 | $58,619 | $85,366 | $18,250 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | 273 | $58,551 | $82,081 | $14,567 |
| Agribusiness | 36 | $56,426 | $81,655 | n/a |
| Agricultural Engineering | 31 | $71,101 | $78,368 | $14,885 |
| Physics | 49 | $53,377 | $77,380 | $20,375 |
| Journalism | 190 | $52,252 | $75,967 | $18,351 |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | 217 | $38,494 | $74,963 | $17,800 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering | 9 | n/a | $73,337 | n/a |
| Biochemistry and molecular biology | 208 | $44,425 | $72,988 | $20,740 |
| Agricultural Public Services | 60 | $46,367 | $71,726 | $14,186 |
| Legal studies | 137 | $42,529 | $70,123 | $17,499 |
| Biology | 393 | $41,194 | $69,005 | $17,097 |
| Genetics | 105 | $43,621 | $68,402 | $19,070 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 59 | $47,629 | $68,397 | $20,500 |
| Political science | 336 | $45,981 | $66,148 | $15,000 |
| Graphic and industrial design | 28 | $53,850 | $65,874 | n/a |
| Chemistry | 71 | $51,795 | $64,734 | $21,000 |
| Landscape Architecture | 21 | n/a | $63,759 | $20,501 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 105 | $45,018 | $63,452 | $14,750 |
| Physical and occupational therapy | 31 | $41,683 | $63,061 | $19,500 |
| Speech-language pathology | 79 | $30,951 | $61,737 | $18,423 |
| Communication | 252 | $46,117 | $61,270 | $18,125 |
| Philosophy | 57 | $41,092 | $61,186 | $19,500 |
| Geography | 55 | $45,760 | $59,424 | $18,125 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 57 | $44,129 | $59,329 | $20,500 |
| Human development and family studies | 148 | $42,901 | $59,044 | $20,250 |
| Psychology | 548 | $38,833 | $58,901 | $19,000 |
| Neuroscience | 272 | $39,505 | $58,824 | $20,500 |
| Geology and earth sciences | 21 | n/a | $58,771 | n/a |
| Romance languages | 147 | $39,594 | $58,565 | $16,899 |
| History | 131 | $42,880 | $58,343 | $17,437 |
| Sociology | 105 | $39,823 | $58,007 | $18,750 |
| Animal science | 38 | $41,283 | $57,605 | $18,869 |
| Area Studies | 25 | $39,304 | $55,733 | $17,200 |
| Anthropology | 31 | $35,729 | $54,773 | $21,500 |
| Social work | 57 | $42,052 | $54,375 | $13,500 |
| English | 100 | $37,625 | $53,197 | $16,700 |
| Environmental science | 174 | $45,219 | $52,631 | $17,653 |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 20 | n/a | $50,963 | n/a |
| Special education | 29 | $49,692 | $50,302 | $15,654 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 50 | $33,404 | $50,080 | $20,500 |
| Teacher education by grade level | 123 | $48,054 | $49,640 | $12,010 |
| Ecology and evolutionary biology | 88 | $40,370 | $49,602 | $14,990 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 47 | $40,847 | $48,934 | $19,500 |
| Fine and studio arts | 79 | $38,177 | $48,684 | $16,750 |
| Teacher education by subject | 29 | $47,360 | $48,435 | $18,500 |
| Wildlife management | 28 | $34,869 | $45,212 | $13,500 |
| Data science | 408 | $87,360 | n/a | $18,686 |
| Sustainability Studies | 110 | n/a | n/a | $19,000 |
| Management information systems | 57 | $87,860 | n/a | $14,000 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 47 | $41,922 | n/a | n/a |
| Pharmacy | 43 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Information science | 36 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Astronomy | 33 | $42,730 | n/a | $19,882 |
| Linguistics | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Music | 25 | $26,871 | n/a | n/a |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Apparel and Textiles | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Plant and soil science | 15 | $34,612 | n/a | n/a |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Religious studies | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dance | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Applied mathematics | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Environmental engineering | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Theater | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Soil Sciences | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Engineering Physics | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Engineering, Other | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Forestry | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| African Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Interdisciplinary studies, other | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison
185 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 185 graduate programs
Trade and career programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Certificate and associate programs in the trades we track. One-year earnings are for graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, four-year earnings for graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, both in 2024 dollars.
| Program | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomy and medical lab | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Students and location
- 36,902 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 53% women, 47% men
- 18 students for every faculty member
- Setting: large city
- Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
University of Wisconsin-Madison admitted 45% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Madison cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $12,166 for in-state students and $44,191 for out-of-state students. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $16,600 a year in 2024-25.
What SAT score do you need for University of Wisconsin-Madison?
The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 670 to 740 in reading and writing and 710 to 780 in math, and 29 to 33 on the ACT. Scores inside these ranges are typical for admitted students.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison test-optional?
For fall 2024 admission, University of Wisconsin-Madison reported that test scores were: considered but not required. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
90% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $80,330 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in Wisconsin · University of Wisconsin-Madison on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.