The University of Iowa vs. University of Wisconsin–Madison
A side-by-side comparison of Iowa and Wisconsin — acceptance rates (79.9% vs. 45.2%), SAT scores (1130–1320 vs. 1370–1490), tuition, financial aid, and majors, drawn from each school's official Common Data Set.
Want to compare other schools? Open the interactive comparison tool →
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Iowa does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Iowa is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Iowa does not report this.
Not reported
Admissions Factors
How Iowa weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Iowa's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $22,088 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admitted~1.5× higher admit rate for in-state applicants.
Early Action
Wisconsin offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Wisconsin is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Wisconsin's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 27.3% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Wisconsin does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Wisconsin weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Wisconsin's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $32,025 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Iowa or Wisconsin application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Iowa, Wisconsin, and beyond.
Iowa vs. Wisconsin: frequently asked questions
Is Iowa or Wisconsin harder to get into?＋
Wisconsin is more selective: it admits about 45.2% of applicants, compared with 79.9% at Iowa. Both are competitive, and your odds depend on far more than the overall rate.
Which has higher SAT scores, Iowa or Wisconsin?＋
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1130–1320 at Iowa and 1370–1490 at Wisconsin on the SAT. Treat the ranges as a benchmark — a score inside or above a school's range keeps you competitive there.
Is Iowa or Wisconsin cheaper for out-of-state students?＋
Iowa has the lower published price for out-of-state students — $33,710 in tuition and fees versus $44,191 at Wisconsin, a gap of about $10,481 a year before financial aid.
Does Iowa or Wisconsin have a higher graduation rate?＋
Wisconsin graduates a higher share of its students within six years — 90% versus 76% at Iowa.
Source: The University of Iowa Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. In-State Cost and Out-of-State Cost are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Iowa. Banner photo by Billwhittaker, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Source: University of Wisconsin–Madison Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Wisconsin. Banner photo by Chris Rycroft, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).