University of Wisconsin-Madison: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 53%. UW-Madison is the flagship school of the Wisconsin university system. The waterfront campus occupies over 900 acres between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Wisconsin has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and it frequently ranks among the top public universities in the country. It is well respected for the research conducted in its nearly 100 research centers. In athletics, most of the Wisconsin Badger teams compete in the NCAA's Division 1-A as a member of the Big Ten Conference.

Considering applying to UW-Madison? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, University of Wisconsin had an acceptance rate of 53%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 53 students were admitted, making UW-Madison's admissions process competitive.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of Wisconsin-Madison. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, which accepts approximately half of applicants, has a selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. Keep in mind that UW-Madison has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The university looks for applicants with four years of English and math; three to four years of social studies, science, and a single foreign language; and two years of fine arts, or an additional academic course. Applicants should note that admissions expectations may be different in majors and programs such as business, engineering, dance, and music.

In the graph above, accepted students are represented by the green and blue dots. You can see that the majority of students who were admitted to Wisconsin had a high school average of B+/A- or higher, an ACT composite score above 24, and a combined SAT score (ERW+M) of above about 1150. The chances for admission increase as grades and test scores increase.