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Summary
University of Wisconsin--Madison is a public institution that was founded in 1848. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 30,555, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 936 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Wisconsin--Madison's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 42. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,671 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $25,421 (2011-12).
The University of Wisconsin—Madison lies along the southern shore of Lake Mendota in the city of Madison. The Wisconsin Badgers compete in 25 NCAA Division I sports and are part of the Big Ten Conference. Students can get involved in more than 800 student organizations on campus. There is also an active Greek life and social scene on campus, evident in Wisconsin’s reputation as one of the top party schools in the country. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, but many choose to do so. Students can opt to live in one of the seven residential communities where they learn and live with other students and faculty.
The University of Wisconsin—Madison’s highly ranked graduate schools include the School of Education, Robert M. LaFollette School of Public Affairs, College of Engineering, School of Business, School of Medicine and Public Health, and Law School. The school’s legacy of public service was founded on the "Wisconsin Idea" that education should influence and improve people’s lives beyond the classroom, which has led to strong ties with the university in its community, and throughout the world. Notable Wisconsin alumni include former Vice President Dick Cheney, renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly, author Joyce Carol Oates, aviator Charles Lindbergh, naturalist John Muir, and architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Founded in 1848, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is among the largest and most-respected universities in the nation. Few institutions are more widely recognized as leaders in teaching, research and public service. UW-Madison offers 134 undergraduate majors, 150 master's, 105 doctoral and 11 professional degree programs, all of which expose students to world-class faculty and staff who are responsible for not only teaching, but using their skills and research to change the world. Located on the wooded shores of Lake Mendota, the 936-acre main campus is adjacent to the busy city streets of downtown Madison, a community consistently ranked among the best places to live in the nation. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1848 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2010 Endowment | $1,807,126,014 |
Applying
When applying to University of Wisconsin--Madison, it's important to note the application deadline is February 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at University of Wisconsin--Madison is $44. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 56.5 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 57% |
| Application deadline | February 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | February 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin--Madison is 17:1, and the school has 45.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Wisconsin--Madison include: Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Economics, General; Political Science and Government, General; History, General; and Psychology, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 94.0 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 17:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 51% - Medium | ||||||||||
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Student Life
University of Wisconsin--Madison has a total undergraduate enrollment of 30,555, with a gender distribution of 48.4 percent male students and 51.6 percent female students. 25.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 75.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Wisconsin--Madison is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at University of Wisconsin--Madison.
| Total enrollment | 42,595 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
University of Wisconsin--Madison offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Wisconsin--Madison also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Wisconsin--Madison.
| Students who have cars on campus | 0% - Low |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At University of Wisconsin--Madison, 40.3 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,222.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $9,671 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $25,421 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $7,780 (2011-12) - Medium |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
