At a glance
Average net price
$17,354
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
89.5%
Admission rate
45%
Undergrad size
36,902
In-state tuition
$11,603
Out-of-state tuition
$42,103
Cost of attendance
$28,679
Median earnings (10y)
$73,792
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,427
- ACT midpoint
- 29
- Retention
- 96.2%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
26 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by stem (31%), social sciences (23%), humanities & arts (21%).
- STEM31%
- Health6%
- Business16%
- Humanities & arts21%
- Social sciences23%
- Trades & services4%
- Business16.2%~5,963 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- ~3,362 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Social sciences8.5%~3,137 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Engineering8.3%~3,063 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Computer science6.8%~2,509 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~2,413 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~2,085 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Communication5.6%~2,059 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~1,845 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Psychology3.4%~1,247 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~1,177 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~1,074 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Education2.6%~952 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~849 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics2.2%~827 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Agriculture1.9%~712 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~620 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~605 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~579 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- History1.3%~465 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~454 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Legal0.7%~266 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Liberal arts0.6%~214 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- English0.6%~210 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~137 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Architecture0.2%~77 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 1,597 | $72,878 | $22,500 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 1,133 | $48,053 | $20,750 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 1,084 | $31,572 | $21,215 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor's | 984 | $61,474 | $21,500 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | Undergraduate certificate | 895 | — | — |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 829 | $30,913 | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 732 | $35,789 | $22,000 |
| Public Health. | Undergraduate certificate | 657 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. | Undergraduate certificate | 652 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | Bachelor's | 581 | $29,137 | $21,750 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 551 | $36,006 | $23,250 |
| Marketing. | Bachelor's | 500 | $53,817 | $20,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Undergraduate certificate | 477 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | Undergraduate certificate | 466 | — | — |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 463 | $51,817 | $20,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor's | 462 | $65,921 | $25,000 |
| Law. | First professional | 455 | $57,402 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 453 | $53,294 | $20,500 |
| Data Science. | Bachelor's | 435 | — | — |
| Journalism. | Bachelor's | 417 | $42,011 | $23,250 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 401 | $70,199 | $20,500 |
| Criminology. | Undergraduate certificate | 397 | — | — |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations. | Bachelor's | 375 | $52,840 | $21,630 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | Bachelor's | 372 | $34,941 | $20,948 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 369 | $27,879 | $26,000 |
| Real Estate. | Bachelor's | 355 | $69,730 | $20,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor's | 334 | $27,422 | $19,500 |
| Medicine. | First professional | 329 | $58,495 | — |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Undergraduate certificate | 316 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Undergraduate certificate | 302 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 298 | $31,856 | $20,250 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 294 | $29,244 | $21,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Master's | 288 | — | — |
| Economics. | Master's | 287 | — | — |
| Social Work. | Master's | 283 | $45,760 | — |
| History. | Bachelor's | 272 | $28,843 | $20,909 |
| Biology, General. | Undergraduate certificate | 258 | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis. | Undergraduate certificate | 256 | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | First professional | 254 | $96,320 | — |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor's | 248 | $78,839 | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a very large institution located in Madison, Wisconsin, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 36,902 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Business, Biological sciences, Social sciences.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at University of Wisconsin-Madison — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $17,354 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $11,603 for in-state students and $42,103 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $28,679 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 89.5%, a strong completion outcome. 96.2% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $73,792 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
University of Wisconsin-Madison confers degrees and certificates across 26 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Business, Biological sciences, Social sciences. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by stem (31% of credentials), social sciences (23% of credentials), humanities & arts (21% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
University of Wisconsin-Madison accepts 45% of applicants, making it selective. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,427. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 29.
Location & campus
Set in Madison, Wisconsin (city), University of Wisconsin-Madison draws students from across Wisconsin and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about University of Wisconsin-Madison
Q.How much does University of Wisconsin-Madison cost?
The average net price at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $17,354 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $28,679.
Q.What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
University of Wisconsin-Madison has a 6-year graduation rate of 89.5% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into University of Wisconsin-Madison?
University of Wisconsin-Madison admits 45% of applicants, which is considered selective.
Q.How much do University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate earns $73,792 per year.
Q.What is tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
Published tuition is $11,603 in-state and $42,103 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is University of Wisconsin-Madison located?
University of Wisconsin-Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin (ZIP 53706).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with University of Wisconsin-Madison at their official website.