University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · Public · offers Graduate degrees
45%Acceptance rate
$17,354Average net price / year
90%Graduation rate
$73,792Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$20,484Median debt at graduation
36,902Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $11,603
- Out-of-state tuition
- $42,103
- Total cost of attendance
- $28,679
- Room & board
- $14,124
- Books & supplies
- $1,100
- Average net price
- $17,354
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $4,200
- $30–48k
- $4,101
- $48–75k
- $8,134
- $75–110k
- $17,763
- $110k+
- $27,292
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 45.2%
- Average SAT
- 1427
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 670–740
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 710–780
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 29–33
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 90%
- First-year retention
- 96%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $61,275
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $73,792
- Median debt (graduates)
- $20,484
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 16%
- Students with federal loans
- 20%
Programs: what graduates earn
129 of 396 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctoral degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | 57 | $108,840 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 24 | $70,406 | $63,482 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 40 | $58,293 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 20 | $69,654 | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 10 | $46,131 | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 17 | $107,552 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 19 | $104,681 | — |
| Music | 17 | $65,495 | — |
| Public Health | 18 | $169,322 | — |
| History | 14 | $73,942 | — |
First professional degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 25 | $108,953 | $55,103 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 125 | $94,918 | $127,000 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 98 | $89,592 | $129,925 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 8 | $82,356 | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 47 | $72,645 | $64,000 |
| Law | 226 | $71,236 | $61,500 |
| Medicine | 156 | $66,876 | $179,642 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $103,937 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 36,902
- Graduate students
- 14,402
- Part-time
- 5%
- Women / men
- 53% / 47%
- White
- 59%
- Hispanic
- 9%
- Black
- 2%
- Asian
- 11%
- International
- 10%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 18:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $140,787 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 86%
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Website
- www.wisc.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Area & Ethnic Studies – 5% of degrees
- Communication & Journalism – 6% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 7% of degrees
- Education – 3% of degrees
- Engineering – 7% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 8% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Madison?
45.2% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1427 on the SAT.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Madison cost?
The average net price after grants is $17,354 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $11,603 and the full cost of attendance is $28,679.
How much do University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $73,792 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
90% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Madison
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI · Public · 10,073 students |
$14,238 | — | 29% | $45,413 |
| Herzing University-Madison Madison, WI · Private nonprofit · 2,494 students |
$22,327 | 94% | 28% | $36,909 |
| Edgewood University Madison, WI · Private nonprofit · 1,107 students |
$26,113 | 76% | 60% | $59,728 |
| The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Madison Madison, WI · Private for-profit · 88 students |
$12,568 | — | 97% | $31,723 |
| East-West Healing Arts Institute Madison, WI · Private for-profit · 72 students |
$55,568 | — | 87% | — |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals Madison, WI · Private for-profit · 53 students |
$19,549 | — | 93% | $25,117 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.