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 45% of applicants are admitted, and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA near 3.90 with middle-50% SAT scores of 1370–1490. 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.
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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~1.5× 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.
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Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin admissions
What GPA and class rank do you need to get into UW–Madison?＋
Enrolled first-years at UW–Madison report an average high school GPA of about 3.90 on a 4.0 scale, and among the roughly 27% who submitted a class rank, about 54% were in the top tenth and 87% 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.
Is UW–Madison hard to get into?＋
UW–Madison is selective but attainable by elite-public standards, admitting about 45% of applicants from a pool of roughly 66,000 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 51% of undergraduates and state residency is weighed as an important factor.
What are my chances of getting into UW–Madison from out of state?＋
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 38.4% of out-of-state applicants (24,495 of 63,854, a group that includes non-resident domestic, international, and Minnesota Compact students). 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.
Is a 1450 SAT good enough for UW–Madison?＋
Yes — a 1450 is competitive at UW–Madison, landing in the upper half of enrolled students between the median of 1400 and the 75th percentile of 1490. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1370–1490 on the SAT and 29–33 on the ACT. UW–Madison is test-optional through the spring 2027 application cycle, so scores are considered but not required.
Is UW–Madison test-optional?＋
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 1370–1490 on the SAT and 29–33 on the ACT.
How much does UW–Madison cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees run about $12,166 for Wisconsin residents and $44,191 for out-of-state students. About 29% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, with an average package near $31,125, and UW–Madison meets roughly 89% of demonstrated need on average.
What are the most popular majors at UW–Madison?＋
Business and marketing is the single most popular degree area at about 18% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the social sciences (16%), the biological and life sciences (11%), engineering (10%), and computer and information sciences (9%). The university's breadth means dozens of other programs make up the remaining degrees conferred.
Does the application essay matter at UW–Madison?＋
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 66,000 applications, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways a strong applicant can stand out.
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).