University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, SAT/ACT scores, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Madison, Wisconsin
Net price / year
$17,354
after grants & scholarships
higher than 78% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
45%
Graduation rate
89%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 99% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$78,974
4 years after graduating
higher than 94% of public 4-year colleges
University of Wisconsin-Madison at a glance
- What is the tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $11,603 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $42,103 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
- The average cost of attendance is $28,679 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
- The average net price for in-state students is $17,354 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
- About 45% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- What SAT and ACT scores are typical at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
- The middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores had an SAT total of about 1380–1520 and an ACT composite of 29–33 (fall 2024). Test policy reported: Considered if submitted, but not required.
- What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
- 89% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn?
- The median graduate earns $78,974 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- Graduates earn a median $78,974 four years after finishing, more than 94% of public 4-year colleges.
- 89% of students graduate on time or within 150% of normal time, higher than 99% of public 4-year colleges.
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.7 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- At $17,354 a year, the average net price is higher than 78% of public 4-year colleges.
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $4,200 a year on average, versus $27,292 for families earning over $110,000.
Tuition and cost of attendance at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Average net price (in-state)
$17,354 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the University of Wisconsin-Madison net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$69,416
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $4,200
- $30–48k $4,101
- $48–75k $8,134
- $75–110k $17,763
- $110k+ $27,292
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $28,679
- Tuition & fees$11,603
- Books & supplies$1,100
- Room & board$14,124
- Other expenses$3,178
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $11,603
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $42,103
University of Wisconsin-Madison acceptance rate and SAT/ACT scores
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduation rate
89%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
95%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$217
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
1.7 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.3×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 3.3%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 90%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $52,171 · median $73,792 · 75th percentile $108,161
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 7,323 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 18%
- Making progress 17%
- Not making progress 11%
- Delinquent 1%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 42%
- Deferment 11%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
7,323 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Bachelor's · Graduates: 83 | $120,483 | 1 yr$73,2394 yrs$120,4835 yrs$119,949 | U.S. median $84,821 U.S. middle half $55.6K–$120.7K · Above the U.S. median | $20,138 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 58 | $120,068 | 4 yrs$120,0685 yrs$145,337 | U.S. median $109,015 U.S. middle half $86.3K–$145.2K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 226 | $119,655 | 1 yr$80,5664 yrs$119,6555 yrs$118,588 | U.S. median $92,374 U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 86 | $110,711 | 1 yr$80,4354 yrs$110,7115 yrs$110,022 | U.S. median $98,442 U.S. middle half $81.2K–$121.7K · Above the U.S. median | $23,481 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 313 | $107,207 | 1 yr$68,6814 yrs$107,2075 yrs$106,484 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Above the U.S. median | $20,181 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 27 Small sample | $106,783 | 1 yr$66,5914 yrs$106,7835 yrs$103,185 | U.S. median $73,201 U.S. middle half $51.3K–$98.8K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 66 | $106,521 | 1 yr$83,2604 yrs$106,5215 yrs$126,855 | U.S. median $86,176 U.S. middle half $61.8K–$114.7K · Above the U.S. median | $22,250 |
| Insurance Bachelor's · Graduates: 92 | $105,992 | 1 yr$78,7964 yrs$105,9925 yrs$110,596 | U.S. median $88,472 U.S. middle half $65.7K–$112.8K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Nuclear Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $102,449 | 4 yrs$102,4495 yrs$110,897 | U.S. median $99,297 U.S. middle half $78.1K–$122.2K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 66 | $101,676 | 1 yr$85,9454 yrs$101,6765 yrs$102,023 | U.S. median $98,158 U.S. middle half $80.3K–$118K · Above the U.S. median | $21,638 |
Show all 71 programs
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 92 | $101,438 | 1 yr$67,7444 yrs$101,4385 yrs$100,406 | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Above the U.S. median | $20,080 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 90 | $101,390 | 1 yr$68,9094 yrs$101,3905 yrs$96,130 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Above the U.S. median | $20,277 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 135 | $100,005 | 1 yr$67,6994 yrs$100,0055 yrs$92,203 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 68 | $99,762 | 1 yr$74,0944 yrs$99,7625 yrs$94,667 | U.S. median $93,451 U.S. middle half $74.1K–$113.9K · Above the U.S. median | $20,492 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $99,210 | 1 yr$64,6844 yrs$99,210 | U.S. median $92,425 U.S. middle half $64.6K–$125.5K · Above the U.S. median | $24,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 181 | $96,148 | 1 yr$65,2244 yrs$96,1485 yrs$99,093 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Above the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 140 | $95,114 | 1 yr$74,6114 yrs$95,1145 yrs$97,845 | U.S. median $92,135 U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Above the U.S. median | $19,450 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 74 | $95,059 | 1 yr$82,0184 yrs$95,0595 yrs$93,494 | U.S. median $100,647 U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Below the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Engineering Mechanics Bachelor's · Graduates: 43 | $92,276 | 1 yr$72,6124 yrs$92,2765 yrs$86,480 | U.S. median $93,437 U.S. middle half $78.9K–$108.1K · Below the U.S. median | $23,500 |
| Materials Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 46 | $91,265 | 1 yr$76,6624 yrs$91,2655 yrs$85,207 | U.S. median $91,449 U.S. middle half $76.7K–$109.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,195 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 111 | $87,691 | 1 yr$71,2464 yrs$87,6915 yrs$83,988 | U.S. median $86,517 U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 221 | $85,579 | 1 yr$75,5134 yrs$85,5795 yrs$81,103 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Below the U.S. median | $20,659 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $85,445 | 4 yrs$85,4455 yrs$74,120 | U.S. median $70,873 U.S. middle half $54.1K–$88.2K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 342 | $85,366 | 1 yr$54,4954 yrs$85,3665 yrs$84,958 | U.S. median $82,686 U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 99 | $82,081 | 1 yr$57,7604 yrs$82,0815 yrs$73,814 | U.S. median $75,399 U.S. middle half $51.4K–$102.2K · Above the U.S. median | $18,737 |
| Agricultural Business and Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $81,655 | 1 yr$49,8684 yrs$81,6555 yrs$74,752 | U.S. median $66,647 U.S. middle half $48.6K–$90.4K · Above the U.S. median | $12,500 |
| Agricultural Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 63 | $78,368 | 1 yr$67,7464 yrs$78,3685 yrs$78,773 | U.S. median $84,624 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$103.9K · Below the U.S. median | $19,970 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $77,380 | 1 yr$36,8784 yrs$77,3805 yrs$69,928 | U.S. median $76,786 U.S. middle half $51.8K–$102.9K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 143 | $75,967 | 1 yr$40,9424 yrs$75,9675 yrs$68,253 | U.S. median $56,278 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$73.9K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 65 | $74,963 | 1 yr$29,8664 yrs$74,9635 yrs$70,830 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Above the U.S. median | $24,000 |
| Geological/Geophysical Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 34 | $73,337 | 4 yrs$73,3375 yrs$86,070 | U.S. median $77,880 U.S. middle half $63.3K–$96.5K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Bachelor's · Graduates: 88 | $72,988 | 1 yr$44,0744 yrs$72,9885 yrs$71,370 | U.S. median $65,466 U.S. middle half $44.9K–$88.4K · Above the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Agricultural Public Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 55 | $71,726 | 1 yr$48,0924 yrs$71,7265 yrs$69,239 | U.S. median $54,152 U.S. middle half $40.4K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 75 | $70,123 | 1 yr$41,1444 yrs$70,1235 yrs$65,938 | U.S. median $61,959 U.S. middle half $42.7K–$82.6K · Above the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 228 | $69,005 | 1 yr$35,7984 yrs$69,0055 yrs$68,812 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Genetics Bachelor's · Graduates: 39 | $68,402 | 1 yr$38,3884 yrs$68,4025 yrs$68,301 | U.S. median $66,076 U.S. middle half $45.4K–$85.3K · Above the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $68,397 | 1 yr$49,1864 yrs$68,3975 yrs$65,144 | U.S. median $62,582 U.S. middle half $44K–$83.2K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 240 | $66,148 | 1 yr$42,0634 yrs$66,1485 yrs$68,593 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 32 | $65,874 | 1 yr$49,7804 yrs$65,8745 yrs$58,646 | U.S. median $51,490 U.S. middle half $33K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $17,875 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 46 | $64,734 | 1 yr$48,8864 yrs$64,7345 yrs$73,896 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Below the U.S. median | $22,250 |
| Landscape Architecture Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $63,759 | — | U.S. median $66,387 U.S. middle half $52.1K–$78.6K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| International/Globalization Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 83 | $63,452 | 1 yr$40,5944 yrs$63,4525 yrs$61,225 | U.S. median $59,972 U.S. middle half $40.8K–$82.9K · Above the U.S. median | $17,732 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 62 | $63,061 | 1 yr$32,0494 yrs$63,0615 yrs$60,975 | U.S. median $55,792 U.S. middle half $40K–$73.8K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 78 | $61,737 | 1 yr$14,6684 yrs$61,7375 yrs$63,832 | U.S. median $58,928 U.S. middle half $45K–$73K · Above the U.S. median | $25,247 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 220 | $61,270 | 1 yr$37,2864 yrs$61,2705 yrs$57,874 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 32 | $61,186 | 1 yr$35,9754 yrs$61,1865 yrs$56,645 | U.S. median $54,455 U.S. middle half $34.9K–$78K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 42 | $59,424 | 1 yr$42,9974 yrs$59,4245 yrs$62,158 | U.S. median $57,853 U.S. middle half $42.5K–$75.6K · Above the U.S. median | $18,689 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 57 | $59,329 | 1 yr$34,5044 yrs$59,3295 yrs$65,131 | U.S. median $60,053 U.S. middle half $43.2K–$76.8K · Below the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 179 | $59,044 | 1 yr$34,1494 yrs$59,0445 yrs$55,416 | U.S. median $48,568 U.S. middle half $35.1K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 280 | $58,901 | 1 yr$31,9854 yrs$58,9015 yrs$61,607 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 70 | $58,824 | 1 yr$31,6874 yrs$58,824 | U.S. median $62,451 U.S. middle half $40.7K–$88.6K · Below the U.S. median | $21,202 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $58,771 | 1 yr$43,0684 yrs$58,7715 yrs$71,564 | U.S. median $60,190 U.S. middle half $44.3K–$77.6K · Below the U.S. median | $24,250 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 135 | $58,565 | 1 yr$35,7204 yrs$58,5655 yrs$60,761 | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 105 | $58,343 | 1 yr$35,9594 yrs$58,3435 yrs$58,333 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Above the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 93 | $58,007 | 1 yr$35,8894 yrs$58,0075 yrs$60,766 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | $17,212 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample | $57,745 | 4 yrs$57,7455 yrs$55,860 | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Below the U.S. median | $24,699 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 48 | $57,605 | 1 yr$44,3544 yrs$57,6055 yrs$57,024 | U.S. median $49,634 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.9K · Above the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 26 Small sample | $55,733 | 4 yrs$55,7335 yrs$51,831 | U.S. median $56,625 U.S. middle half $37.2K–$78.5K · Below the U.S. median | $20,196 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $54,773 | 4 yrs$54,7735 yrs$50,446 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Above the U.S. median | $16,166 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 83 | $54,375 | 4 yrs$54,3755 yrs$57,400 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Above the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 111 | $53,197 | 1 yr$28,5264 yrs$53,1975 yrs$53,044 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Above the U.S. median | $19,989 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 124 | $52,631 | 1 yr$28,8244 yrs$52,6315 yrs$53,967 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Below the U.S. median | $18,875 |
| Botany/Plant Biology Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $50,963 | — | U.S. median $49,245 U.S. middle half $35K–$64.2K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Special Education and Teaching Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $50,302 | 1 yr$50,1744 yrs$50,3025 yrs$55,063 | U.S. median $50,499 U.S. middle half $41.4K–$60.1K · Below the U.S. median | $20,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 77 | $50,080 | 1 yr$23,8884 yrs$50,0805 yrs$49,352 | U.S. median $44,055 U.S. middle half $32.9K–$58.8K · Above the U.S. median | $23,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 83 | $49,640 | 1 yr$45,9064 yrs$49,6405 yrs$51,263 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology Bachelor's · Graduates: 49 | $49,602 | 1 yr$28,8564 yrs$49,6025 yrs$39,796 | U.S. median $48,842 U.S. middle half $36K–$64.3K · Above the U.S. median | $19,500 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 37 | $48,934 | 1 yr$28,8414 yrs$48,9345 yrs$52,025 | U.S. median $51,710 U.S. middle half $34.9K–$68.1K · Below the U.S. median | $19,254 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 58 | $48,684 | 1 yr$30,5034 yrs$48,6845 yrs$39,038 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median | $16,750 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $48,435 | 1 yr$45,9664 yrs$48,4355 yrs$46,338 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $45,212 | 4 yrs$45,2125 yrs$36,657 | U.S. median $45,338 U.S. middle half $34.2K–$59.3K · Below the U.S. median | — |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 59.1%
- Black or African American 2.5%
- Hispanic or Latino 8.5%
- Asian 11%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
- Two or more races 4.9%
- U.S. nonresident 10.3%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 3.5%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 46.6%
- Women 53.4%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
3%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 36,902
- Part-time students
- 5%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 16%
- Receive federal loans
- 20%
- Students per faculty member
- 18 : 1
- Setting
- City
Similar colleges
Schools of a similar type, price, size and outcomes.
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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Net price $15,014Earnings $62,480
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George Mason University
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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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Where it ranks
This college appears in the top 50 of these TuitionScope rankings.
Guides worth reading
Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.
More in Wisconsin
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Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
For the 2024-25 academic year, University of Wisconsin-Madison reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $11,603 for in-state students and $42,103 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
The average cost of attendance at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $28,679 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $17,354 a year. That is higher than 78% of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at University of Wisconsin-Madison get?
16% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 20% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $4,200 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $27,292 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
University of Wisconsin-Madison admitted about 45% of applicants in fall 2024. That makes admission selective.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Wisconsin-Madison?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% had an SAT total of about 1380–1520 and an ACT composite of 29–33 (fall 2024). That is a guide, not a cutoff. Reported test policy: Considered if submitted, but not required.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
89% of first-time, full-time students at University of Wisconsin-Madison finish within 150% of normal time. 95% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $78,974 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $53,379.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For University of Wisconsin-Madison, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.7 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $20,484, about 0.3 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 89% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things