University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is the public flagship of the Wisconsin system, set on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona and animated by the "Wisconsin Idea" that university research should serve the whole state. It is a Big Ten research powerhouse enrolling roughly 39,000 undergraduates, with particular strength in the life sciences, business, engineering, and the social sciences. Admission is selective but attainable by elite-public standards — about 41% of applicants are admitted, and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA near 3.91 with middle-50% SAT scores of 1400–1490. Wisconsin remains test-optional through the spring 2027 cycle, retains 96% of first-years into their second year, and graduates about 90% within six years.
See how Wisconsin compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Wisconsin admissions statistics
Acceptance rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admitted~1.4× 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
Wisconsin supplemental essays — 2026-2027 cycle
Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (you may enter up to 650 words)
Writing your Wisconsin application essay?
Paste your draft and get specific, line-by-line feedback on what is and isn't landing — scored against the rubrics admissions readers use.
Class rank
Where Wisconsin's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 35.5% 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.
Financial aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin admissions
Enrolled first-years at UW–Madison report an average high school GPA of about 3.91 on a 4.0 scale, and among the roughly 36% who submitted a class rank, about 58% were in the top tenth and 91% in the top quarter of their graduating class. There is no hard cutoff, but the rigor of your course load is weighed as a very important factor right alongside your GPA.
UW–Madison is selective but attainable by elite-public standards, admitting about 41% of applicants from a pool of roughly 74,000 and enrolling around 8,500 first-years. Admission is more competitive for out-of-state and international applicants, since out-of-state students already make up about 52% of undergraduates and state residency is weighed as an important factor.
Out-of-state applicants face notably tougher odds than Wisconsin residents. In fall 2025, UW–Madison admitted about 56.4% of in-state applicants (5,672 of 10,058) but only about 40.3% of out-of-state applicants (19,948 of 49,463); international applicants, reported separately, were admitted at about 31.6%. State residency is listed as an important admissions factor, so if you are applying from outside Wisconsin, plan on a more competitive profile than the overall figures imply.
Yes — a 1450 is competitive at UW–Madison, landing right at the median score for enrolled first-years and inside the 1400–1490 middle-50% band. Enrolled first-years also scored 29–33 on the ACT. UW–Madison is test-optional through the spring 2027 application cycle, so scores are considered but not required.
Yes — UW–Madison is test-optional through the spring 2027 application cycle, so SAT or ACT scores are not required and you are not disadvantaged for leaving them out. If you do submit, scores are weighed as a considered factor; the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1400–1490 on the SAT and 29–33 on the ACT.
Annual tuition and required fees run about $12,166 for Wisconsin residents and $44,191 for out-of-state students. About 35% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average package near $36,138, and UW–Madison meets roughly 91% of demonstrated need on average.
The social sciences are the single largest degree area at about 14% of bachelor's degrees, followed by business and marketing (12%), the biological and life sciences (11%), engineering (11%), and computer and information sciences (10%). The university's breadth means dozens of other programs make up the remaining degrees conferred.
Yes. UW–Madison rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review — below the very important academic record and GPA, but above standardized test scores, which are only considered. Because the school is test-optional and draws roughly 74,000 applications, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways a strong applicant can stand out.
Esslo gives free line-by-line feedback on your draft. Try it now
Popular majors
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
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
Student diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Source: University of Wisconsin–Madison Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-08-20. In-State Cost and Out-of-State Cost are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Wisconsin. Banner photo by Chris Rycroft, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Cite this page as: Esslo College Explorer, “University of Wisconsin–Madison admissions statistics, transcribed from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set,” https://www.esslo.org/colleges/wisconsin-madison (retrieved 2026-08-20).