Madison, WI · 36.9k students
Trajecta score
+4.4 since '20Ranked #74 of 2,375
5-year trend
69.1 · #83
2020
70.3 · #95
2021
71.9 · #74
2022
73.0 · #74
2023
73.5 · #73
2024
Academic Profile
63/ 100
Career Outcomes
79/ 100
Student Success
87/ 100
Affordability
68/ 100
Academic Investment
92/ 100
Access & Equity
39/ 100
Academic Profile
63
Career Outcomes
79
Student Success
87
Affordability
68
Academic Investment
92
Access & Equity
39
AI Fit Analysis
Unlock your AI fit analysis
See how your profile stacks up at University of Wisconsin-Madison — predicted chances, program fit, and a personalized application strategy.
Sign up freeAlready have an account? Log in
Cost / Net Price
$29k / $17k
SAT Avg
1,427
Retention
96%
Grad Rate
89%
Admissions
Test Scores
Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$11,603
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$42,103
per year
Out-of-state premium: +$30,500/yr
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
16%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
20%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$20,484
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.90
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen · 92% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what University of Wisconsin-Madison reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Considered | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Important | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Considered | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Important | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Considered | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Considered | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗Why UW-Madison / major
Required650 wordsTell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
Share this score card
Download University of Wisconsin-Madison's Trajecta Score as an image.
Neighbors in Wisconsin, plus the closest schools nationally by Trajecta Score.
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University
Hayward, WI
Lawrence University
Appleton, WI
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
Villanova University
Villanova, PA