,·Public Research University·Est. 1848
“The Wisconsin Idea — the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state.”
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of America's flagship public research universities and a founding member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. Founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved statehood, UW-Madison has distinguished itself through a unique philosophy known as the 'Wisconsin Idea' — the belief that the university's influence should extend beyond the campus boundaries to improve the lives of all citizens. UW-Madison consistently ranks among the top 10 public universities in the United States and is a global leader in research. The university's Wisconsin School of Business is one of the top undergraduate business programs in the nation. The College of Engineering is a major research powerhouse. The La Follette School of Public Affairs, the Department of Political Science, and the School of Education are all nationally recognized. UW-Madison's research expenditures typically exceed $1.3 billion annually, making it one of the most research-intensive universities in the world. The university has been awarded more U.S. patents than any other university in Wisconsin's history and is home to major research initiatives in biotechnology, sustainability, and computational science. Situated on an isthmus between two lakes in Madison, Wisconsin's state capital, UW-Madison offers one of the most beautiful and distinctive campus settings in higher education. The combination of the Capitol building visible from Bascom Hill, the shores of Lake Mendota, and the vibrant State Street corridor creates a uniquely inspiring environment for learning.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Top Public Schools
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Times Higher Education World Rankings
THE 2025
Forbes America's Top Colleges
Forbes 2025
Business (Undergraduate)
US News 2026
Engineering
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Education
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Sociology
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Economics
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Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding; decisions January
Regular Decision
Decisions March-April
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$10,728
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$39,428
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
The core liberal arts and sciences college at UW-Madison offering over 100 majors.
A top-ranked engineering college with particular strength in biomedical, electrical, and computer engineering.
A top undergraduate business program known for its applied learning approach.
A top-10 education school with strong programs in teacher preparation and educational policy.
4 years
One of the fastest-growing majors on campus and a STEM-designated degree. Graduates enter the workforce at Epic Systems (Madison's healthcare-IT giant), Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. Strong research ties in systems, databases, and ML through the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery.
4 years
Launched in 2019 and already one of Wisconsin's five most-in-demand majors (+914 students in four years). Rigorous stats + computing curriculum; STEM-designated and OPT-extension eligible.
4 years
Wisconsin School of Business's marquee undergraduate finance track. Home of the Applied Security Analysis Program (ASAP) — a student-managed investment fund running since 1970 — and a major pipeline into Chicago asset management.
4 years
Nationally top-ranked actuarial program and one of the oldest in the U.S. CAS/SOA exam preparation integrated into coursework; strong recruiting pipeline into Madison's deep insurance industry (Northwestern Mutual, American Family).
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $61,106
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
