In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at Wisconsin
UW-Madison charges $11,603 a year in published tuition and fees for Wisconsin residents, about $5,802 a semester, and $42,103 a year for students from other states, about $21,052 a semester, a difference of $30,500. About 55% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
What makes Wisconsin different
- A lakeside campus in a capital city. Madison sits on a narrow strip of land between Lakes Mendota and Monona, with the State Capitol nearby.
- The Wisconsin Idea. A long-standing commitment to research that serves people across the state.
- Tuition reciprocity. Students from Minnesota can attend at a reduced rate.
What Wisconsin students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): computer science (665), economics (431), psychology (424), biology (354), finance (306), retailing and consumer studies (259) and mechanical engineering (250). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Wisconsin if…
- You want a big research university with a lively, walkable city around it.
- Lakes, outdoor life and campus traditions appeal to you.
- You're from Minnesota and want a reciprocity rate.
Worth asking about
- How competitive is it to get into high-demand majors after admission?
- What scholarships are available to out-of-state students?
How Wisconsin compares with the other Big Ten schools
Wisconsin combines a city setting with a college-town feel, and has one of the conference's highest shares of out-of-state students. See how the 18 Big Ten schools differ.
FAQ
What is UW-Madison's acceptance rate? 40.8% for fall 2025: 30,167 of 73,912 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source For fall 2024 it was 45.2%.
What is UW-Madison's out-of-state acceptance rate? 40.3% for fall 2025, compared with 56.4% for Wisconsin residents. UW-Madison admitted 19,948 of 49,463 out-of-state applicants and 5,672 of 10,058 Wisconsin residents, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source International applicants are counted separately. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $42,103 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities →
How much does UW-Madison cost? Published tuition and fees are $11,603 a year in-state and $42,103 out-of-state, before any aid.
Is Wisconsin in the Big Ten? Yes. Wisconsin is one of the 18 Big Ten universities.
How much is UW–Madison tuition per semester? About $5,802 a semester for Wisconsin residents and $21,052 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $11,603 and $42,103 before aid.
Is UW–Madison an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to UW–Madison? About 36,900 undergraduates (fall 2024).
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