UW - Madison Rankings and Evaluation
National Universities
#51 in National Universities
World Universities
#81 in World Universities
Wisconsin Colleges
#1 in Wisconsin Colleges
University of Wisconsin-Madison is ranked 51st in National Universities, 81st in World Universities, and 1st in Wisconsin Colleges.
The following statements evaluate University of Wisconsin-Madison by comparing key academic facts to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
- Its tuition & fees of $42,103 is very expensive compared to similar schools.
- The acceptance rate (45%) is lower (difficult to get in).
- The SAT & ACT scores (1,460 SAT, 31 ACT) is around average.
- It has very large number of students of 51,044.
- The financial aid amount ($15,223) is much higher.
- It offers very diverse area of study (509 programs).
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of UW - Madison are $42,103 (out-of-state rate) and it is very expensive compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison $42,103
All U.S. Colleges $17,692
Public, 4-Years Colleges $18,895
4-Years Colleges $22,926
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin $15,878
Graduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 graduate tuition & fees of UW - Madison are $25,651 (out-of-state rate) and it is expensive compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison $25,651
All U.S. Colleges $18,842
Public, 4-Years Colleges $20,343
4-Years Colleges $18,848
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin $17,541
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate of UW - Madison is 45% and it is lower (difficult to get in) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 45%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 72%
4-Years Colleges 68%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin 78%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)
The yield, also known as enrollment rate, of UW - Madison is 29% and the yield is lower (admitted, but not enrolled) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 29%
All U.S. Colleges 37%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 32%
4-Years Colleges 35%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin 45%
SAT Scores
The average SAT score submitted by enrolled students at UW - Madison is 1,460 and it is around average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 1,460
All U.S. Colleges 1,123
Public, 4-Years Colleges 1,112
4-Years Colleges 1,124
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin 1,390
ACT Scores
The average ACT score submitted by enrolled students at UW - Madison is 31 and it is lower compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 31
All U.S. Colleges 68
Public, 4-Years Colleges 67
4-Years Colleges 68
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin 66
Graduation Rate
The average graduation rate at UW - Madison is 90% and it is extremely higher (most students completed in-time) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 90%
All U.S. Colleges 56%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 48%
4-Years Colleges 51%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin 54%
Retention Rate
The average retention rate at UW - Madison is 96% and it is extremely higher (most students continue to attend) compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 96%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Public, 4-Years Colleges 74%
4-Years Colleges 73%
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin 77%
Student Population
The total student population at UW - Madison is 51,044 and its population very large compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 51,044
All U.S. Colleges 2,931
Public, 4-Years Colleges 11,396
4-Years Colleges 4,686
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin 11,007
Financial Aid Amount
The average amount of financial aid received at UW - Madison is $15,223 which is 36.16% of tuition & fees. The rate of the financial aid over its tuition is much higher compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison $15,223
All U.S. Colleges $7,676
Public, 4-Years Colleges $7,301
4-Years Colleges $12,161
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin $4,156
Student to Faculty Ratio
The students to faculty ratio at UW - Madison is 18 to 1 and the ratio is average compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 18 to 1
All U.S. Colleges 15 to 1
Public, 4-Years Colleges 17 to 1
4-Years Colleges 14 to 1
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin 19 to 1
Number of Programs
UW - Madison offers 509 programs and it means very diverse area of study compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Madison 509
All U.S. Colleges 37
Public, 4-Years Colleges 108
4-Years Colleges 58
Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin 96
Number of Online Programs
UW - Madison offers 28 online programs and it means very diverse online programs compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Wisconsin.