University of Wisconsin-Madison

www.wisc.edu

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    2024 Undergraduate Tuition
    $10,006
    3.75% growth from 2023
    2024 Average Net Price
    $14,235
    After Financial Aid
    2024 Acceptance Rate
    45.2%
    65,894 Applicants
    2024 Enrolled Students
    51,044
    90.7% Full-Time
    2024 Graduation Rate
    89.5%
    6,135 Graduates

    About

    University of Wisconsin-Madison is a higher education institution located in Dane County, WI. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at University of Wisconsin-Madison were General Computer & Information Sciences (875 degrees awarded), General Economics (590 degrees), and General Psychology (548 degrees).

    In 2024, 19,400 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison. 55.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 44.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (12,225 degrees), 7.88 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,551 degrees).

    The median undergraduate tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $10,006, which is $−21,914 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    Photo by Paul Frederickson
    Doctoral Universities: Highest Research ActivityDoctoral Universities

    Costs

    In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $10,006, which is $21,914 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $14,235.

    In 2024, 43% of undergraduate students attending University of Wisconsin-Madison received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 20% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

    Tuition Costs

    $10,006
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition

    In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison was $10,006. The cost of tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $−21,914 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    This chart compares the tuition costs of University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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    Average Net Price

    $14,235
    2024 Value
    0.134%
    1 Year Growth

    In 2024 University of Wisconsin-Madison had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,235. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of University of Wisconsin-Madison grew by 0.134%.

    This chart compares the average net price of University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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    Other Student Expenses

    $13,500
    Room and Board
    $1,100
    Books and Supplies

    The average yearly cost of room and board at University of Wisconsin-Madison was of $13,500 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 4.7% between 2023 and 2024.

    During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,100. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 4.35% during the same period.

    This chart compares the average student costs at University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with that of similar universities.

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    Financial Aid by Income Level

    43%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
    20%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

    43% of undergraduate students at University of Wisconsin-Madison received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 2.38% with respect to 2023, when 42% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

    This chart compares the average award discount at University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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    Admissions

    University of Wisconsin-Madison received 65,894 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 3.76% annual growth. Out of those 65,894 applicants, 29,782 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 45.2% acceptance rate.

    There were 51,044 students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024. 15% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

    University of Wisconsin-Madison has an overall enrollment yield of 28.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

    Acceptance Rate

    45.2%
    Acceptance Rate in 2024
    29,782
    Accepted Out of 65,894

    In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of University of Wisconsin-Madison was 45.2% (29,782 admissions from 65,894 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 43.3%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 3.76%, while admissions grew by 8.18%.

    This chart compares the acceptance rate of University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

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    SAT Scores

    15%
    Submission Percentage (2024)
    1,241
    Scores Submitted (2024)

    15% of enrolled first-time students at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

    The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

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    Enrollment

    University of Wisconsin-Madison had a total enrollment of 51,044 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Madison is 46,279 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,765. This means that 90.7% of students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Madison are enrolled full-time.

    The enrolled student population at University of Wisconsin-Madison, both undergraduate and graduate, is 56.2% White, 9.71% Asian, 7.97% Hispanic or Latino, 4.51% Two or More Races, 2.65% Black or African American, 0.264% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.047% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

    Students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Madison in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (33.8%), followed by White Male (25.4%) and Asian Male (5.64%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (28%), followed by White Male (20.3%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (3.64%).

    Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

    90.7%
    Full-Time Enrollment

    The total enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 51,044 students. The full-time enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Madison is 46,279 and the part-time enrollment is 4,765. This means that 90.7% of students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Madison are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

    This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Retention Rate over Time

    96%
    2024 Retention Rate

    Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at University of Wisconsin-Madison was 96%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), University of Wisconsin-Madison had a retention rate higher than its peers.

    This chart shows the retention rate over time at University of Wisconsin-Madison (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

    Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      28,707 enrolled students
    2. Asian
      4,955 enrolled students
    3. Hispanic or Latino
      4,068 enrolled students

    The enrolled student population at University of Wisconsin-Madison is 56.2% White, 9.71% Asian, 7.97% Hispanic or Latino, 4.51% Two or More Races, 2.65% Black or African American, 0.264% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.047% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

    Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,547 students (3.03%) did not report their race.

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    Graduates

    In 2024, 2,106 more women than men received degrees from University of Wisconsin-Madison. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at University of Wisconsin-Madison is white (12,225 degrees awarded). There were 7.88 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,551 degrees).

    The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at University of Wisconsin-Madison is General Computer & Information Sciences (875 degrees awarded), followed by General Economics (590 degrees) and General Psychology (548 degrees).

    In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at University of Wisconsin-Madison, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Cultural & Gender Studies (676 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (501 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (442 degrees).

    Common Jobs by Major

    Other managers
    Most Common Job

    The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Other managers (88,217 people), Postsecondary teachers (84,794 people), Secondary school teachers (81,953 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (75,235 people), and Software developers (69,912 people).

    The most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2024 are Cultural & Gender Studies (676 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (501 degrees), Language & Linguistics (442 degrees), Library Science (97 degrees), and Math & Statistics (546 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Highest Paying Jobs by Major

    Surgeons
    Highest Paying Job

    The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Chief executives & legislators, Logisticians, and Economists

    The most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Cultural & Gender Studies (676 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (501 degrees), Language & Linguistics (442 degrees), Library Science (97 degrees), and Math & Statistics (546 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Common Industries by Major

    Elementary & secondary schools
    Most Common Industry

    The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Elementary & secondary schools (211,643 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (155,267 people), Computer Systems Design (105,487 people), Management, scientific & technical consulting services (56,097 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (55,496 people).

    The most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Cultural & Gender Studies (676 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (501 degrees), Language & Linguistics (442 degrees), Library Science (97 degrees), and Math & Statistics (546 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Majors Awarded

    IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by University of Wisconsin-Madison.
    Most Common (2024)
    1. General Computer & Information Sciences
      875 degrees awarded
    2. General Economics
      590 degrees awarded
    3. General Psychology
      548 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at University of Wisconsin-Madison was General Computer & Information Sciences with 875 degrees awarded.

    This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison according to their major.

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    Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

    8,647
    Degrees Awarded to Men
    in 2024
    10,753
    Degrees Awarded to Women
    in 2024

    In 2024, 8,647 degrees were awarded to men at University of Wisconsin-Madison, which is 0.804 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (10,753).

    This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison by degrees awarded.

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    Most Common Male Majors

    In 2024, 1,004 degrees were awarded to men at University of Wisconsin-Madison in General Computer & Information Sciences, which is 4.05 times more than the 248 female recipients with that same degree.

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    Most Common Female Majors

    In 2024, 436 degrees were awarded to men at University of Wisconsin-Madison in General Psychology, which is 3.89 times more than the 112 male recipients with that same degree.

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    Time to Complete

    71%
    100% Completion Time
    89%
    150% Completion Time

    In 2024, 71% of students graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 89% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 90% within 200%.

    The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

    Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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    Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

    Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.
    Asian Female
    Highest Graduation Rate (91.4%)

    The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at University of Wisconsin-Madison is Female and Asian (91.4% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

    The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

    The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 3.52% of graduates (216 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Share

    Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      12,225 degrees awarded
    2. Asian
      1,551 degrees awarded
    3. Hispanic or Latino
      1,247 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity at University of Wisconsin-Madison is white (12,225 degrees awarded). There were 7.88 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,551 degrees).

    2.64% of degree recipients (512 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
    1. White Female
      7,279 degrees awarded
    2. White Female
      7,085 degrees awarded
    3. White Female
      6,690 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at University of Wisconsin-Madison is white female (7,279 degrees awarded). There were 1.03 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (7,085 degrees).

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    Operations

    University of Wisconsin-Madison has an endowment valued at nearly $6.1B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 127M (2.08%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

    In 2024, University of Wisconsin-Madison had a total salary expenditure of 4.23B. University of Wisconsin-Madison employs 995 Professors, 646 Assistant professors and 418 Instructors. Most academics at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Male Professor (639), Female Professor (356), and Female Assistant professor (342).

    The most common positions for non-instructional staff at University of Wisconsin-Madison are: Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 2,199 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 1,797 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 1,655 employees.

    Endowment

    $6.1B
    2024 Endowment
    10.3%
    growth from 2023

    University of Wisconsin-Madison has an endowment valued at about $6.1B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of University of Wisconsin-Madison grew 10.3% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $5.85B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

    This line chart shows how the endowment at University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

    The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

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    Government Grants and Contracts

    Grants & Contracts
    1. $939M - Federal
    2. $37M - State
    3. $1.89M - Local

    As of 2024, University of Wisconsin-Madison received $939M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $37M from state grants and contracts, and $1.89M from local grants and contracts.

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    Salary Expenditure

    $2B
    2024 Salaries
    9.66%
    growth from 2023

    In 2024, University of Wisconsin-Madison paid a median of $2B in salaries, which represents 47.2% of their overall expenditure ($4.23B) and a 9.66% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 10.7% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 6.53% growth between 2021 and 2022.

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    Instructional Salaries

    $378M
    Instructional Salaries
    2,564
    Number of Employees

    In 2024, University of Wisconsin-Madison paid a total of $378M to 2,564 employees working as instructors, which represents 18.9% of all salaries paid.

    This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

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    Occupations by Share

    In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at University of Wisconsin-Madison were Computer, Engineering, and Science with 2,199 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 1,797 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 1,655 employees.

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