University of Wisconsin-Madison

www.wisc.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$9,644

4% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$14,216

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

43.3%

63,505 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

49,605

90.6% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

89.3%

5,893 Graduates

About

University of Wisconsin-Madison is a higher education institution located in Dane County, WI. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at University of Wisconsin-Madison were General Computer & Information Sciences (864 degrees awarded), General Psychology (589 degrees), and General Economics (587 degrees).

In 2023, 19,153 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison. 55.7% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 44.3% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (12,400 degrees), 8.79 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,411 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $9,644, which is $−21,359 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at University of Wisconsin-Madison was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 4,873 total borrowers.

Photo by Paul Frederickson

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $9,644, which is $21,360 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $14,216.

In 2023, 42% of undergraduate students attending University of Wisconsin-Madison received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 22% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$9,644

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison was $9,644. The cost of tuition at University of Wisconsin-Madison is $−21,360 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

This chart compares the tuition costs of University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$14,216

2023 Value

6.28%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 University of Wisconsin-Madison had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,216. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of University of Wisconsin-Madison grew by 6.28%.

This chart compares the average net price of University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$12,894

Room and Board

$1,150

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at University of Wisconsin-Madison was of $12,894 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 2.76% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,150. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

42%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

22%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

42% of undergraduate students at University of Wisconsin-Madison received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 12.5% with respect to 2022, when 48% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at University of Wisconsin-Madison was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 4873 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

University of Wisconsin-Madison received 63,505 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 5.47% annual growth. Out of those 63,505 applicants, 27,529 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 43.3% acceptance rate.

There were 49,605 students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023. 14% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

University of Wisconsin-Madison has an overall enrollment yield of 28.9%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

43.3%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

27,529

Accepted Out of 63,505

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of University of Wisconsin-Madison was 43.3% (27,529 admissions from 63,505 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 49.1%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants grew by 5.47%, while admissions declined by 6.8%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

14%

Submission Percentage (2023)

1,089

Scores Submitted (2023)

14% of enrolled first-time students at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

University of Wisconsin-Madison had a total enrollment of 49,605 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Madison is 44,928 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,677. This means that 90.6% of students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Madison are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at University of Wisconsin-Madison, both undergraduate and graduate, is 57.3% White, 9.26% Asian, 7.82% Hispanic or Latino, 4.39% Two or More Races, 2.68% Black or African American, 0.266% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0564% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Madison in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (34.4%), followed by White Male (26.4%) and Asian Male (5.2%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (28.2%), followed by White Male (21.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (3.66%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

90.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 49,605 students. The full-time enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Madison is 44,928 and the part-time enrollment is 4,677. This means that 90.6% of students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Madison are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

95%

2023 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at University of Wisconsin-Madison was 95%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), University of Wisconsin-Madison had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at University of Wisconsin-Madison (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
28,432 enrolled students
Asian
4,591 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
3,880 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at University of Wisconsin-Madison is 57.3% White, 9.26% Asian, 7.82% Hispanic or Latino, 4.39% Two or More Races, 2.68% Black or African American, 0.266% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0564% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,410 students (2.84%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 2,185 more women than men received degrees from University of Wisconsin-Madison. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at University of Wisconsin-Madison is white (12,400 degrees awarded). There were 8.79 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,411 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at University of Wisconsin-Madison is General Computer & Information Sciences (864 degrees awarded), followed by General Psychology (589 degrees) and General Economics (587 degrees).

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at University of Wisconsin-Madison, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Cultural & Gender Studies (708 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (531 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (457 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Postsecondary teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Postsecondary teachers (86,466 people), Other managers (84,715 people), Secondary school teachers (82,386 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (72,354 people), and Software developers (67,711 people).

The most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023 are Cultural & Gender Studies (708 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (531 degrees), Language & Linguistics (457 degrees), Library Science (92 degrees), and Math & Statistics (598 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Podiatrists, Surgeons, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Cultural & Gender Studies (708 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (531 degrees), Language & Linguistics (457 degrees), Library Science (92 degrees), and Math & Statistics (598 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Computer Systems Design (558,140 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (538,383 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (516,731 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (454,464 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (377,647 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Most Common (2023)

General Computer & Information Sciences
864 degrees awarded
General Psychology
589 degrees awarded
General Economics
587 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at University of Wisconsin-Madison was General Computer & Information Sciences with 864 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

8,484

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

10,669

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 8,484 degrees were awarded to men at University of Wisconsin-Madison, which is 0.795 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (10,669).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 1,011 degrees were awarded to men at University of Wisconsin-Madison in General Computer & Information Sciences, which is 4.11 times more than the 246 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 495 degrees were awarded to men at University of Wisconsin-Madison in General Psychology, which is 5.27 times more than the 94 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

69%

100% Completion Time

89%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 69% of students graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 89% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 90% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (94.1%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at University of Wisconsin-Madison is Female and Asian (94.1% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.36% of graduates (139 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
12,400 degrees awarded
Asian
1,411 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
1,099 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at University of Wisconsin-Madison is white (12,400 degrees awarded). There were 8.79 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,411 degrees).

2.69% of degree recipients (515 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
7,279 degrees awarded
White Male
5,121 degrees awarded
Asian Female
756 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at University of Wisconsin-Madison is white female (7,279 degrees awarded). There were 1.42 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (5,121 degrees).

Operations

University of Wisconsin-Madison has an endowment valued at nearly $5.53B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 28.2M (0.511%) compared to the 4.37% average return (19M on 434M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2023, University of Wisconsin-Madison had a total salary expenditure of 4.04B. University of Wisconsin-Madison employs 960 Professors, 616 Assistant professors and 375 Instructors. Most academics at University of Wisconsin-Madison are Male Professor (624), Female Professor (336), and Female Assistant professor (327).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at University of Wisconsin-Madison are: Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 2,161 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 1,672 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 1,581 employees.

Endowment

$5.53B

2023 Endowment

10.7%

growth from 2022

University of Wisconsin-Madison has an endowment valued at about $5.53B, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of University of Wisconsin-Madison grew 10.7% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $5.1B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at University of Wisconsin-Madison (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$774M - Federal
$73.4M - State
$1.61M - Local

As of 2023, University of Wisconsin-Madison received $774M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $73.4M from state grants and contracts, and $1.61M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$1.82B

2023 Salaries

10.7%

growth from 2022

In 2023, University of Wisconsin-Madison paid a median of $1.82B in salaries, which represents 45.1% of their overall expenditure ($4.04B) and a 10.7% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 6.53% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 2.87% growth between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$350M

Instructional Salaries

2,459

Number of Employees

In 2023, University of Wisconsin-Madison paid a total of $350M to 2,459 employees working as instructors, which represents 19.2% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

960 Employees

Computer, Engineering, and Science

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

2,161 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at University of Wisconsin-Madison were Professor with 960 employees, Assistant professor with 616 employees, and Instructor with 375 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at University of Wisconsin-Madison were Computer, Engineering, and Science with 2,161 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 1,672 employees, and Business and Financial Operations with 1,581 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Assistant professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at University of Wisconsin-Madison was Male Professor with 624 employees, Female Professor with 336 employees, and Female Assistant professor with 327 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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