University of Wisconsin (UW) – Madison Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 05/2023)

Total Cost of Attendance

The University of Wisconsin (UW) – Madison is a well-respected research institution with a focus on genomes, agriculture, and medicine. UW Madison tuition is $10,796 for in-state students and $39,427 for out-of-state students. In comparison, the national average for public four-year schools is $10,940 for in-state students and $39,400 for out-of-state students.

Costs for 2022-23

Financial Aid

UW Madison is need-blind, which means your ability to pay for college isn’t considered in the application process. In fact, 64% of students receive some form of financial aid, whether that’s scholarships, grants, or student loans.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

There are two types of student loans: federal and private. At University of Wisconsin – Madison, 26% of students take out federal loans and 6% take out private loans. The average private student loan amount to help with UW Madison tuition is $16,550.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

As you research student loan and scholarship information, you’ll want to consider how much it will cost to attend a college for four years. The average cost for four years of tuition, fees, room and board, and books at a public institution is $111,760, according to CollegeData.com.

In comparison, UW costs $111,976 for four years for students coming from Wisconsin and $226,500 for students from other states.

Here’s some Wisconsin Student Loan & Scholarship Information for you.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2022-23

UW Madison tuition for the 2022-23 school year, including room and board, was $23,690 for in-state students and $52,321 for out-of-state students.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2022-23

The cost to attend graduate school at the University of Wisconsin – Madison is $12,251 for in-state students and $25,577 for out-of-state students. The average tuition in the U.S. is $29,150 for a Master’s degree at a four-year public institution. There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

If you prefer to attend UW part-time, you would pay $497.81 per credit if you’re from Wisconsin and $1,690.77 if you are from out of state.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2022-23

*Based on one-bedroom pricing. Average rate based on available apartments on UW’s off-campus housing website in 2023.

Students aren’t required to live on campus, though 8,000 choose to live in one of UW’s residence halls, focused learning communities, or affinity communities for students with shared backgrounds or interests.

Some students opt to live off-campus in an apartment, duplex, or house. Many live with roommates to cut down on the cost. Learn more about off-campus housing options here

University of Wisconsin – Madison Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021

The UW Madison acceptance rate is 60%. More than half of all students who apply are accepted.

Admission Requirements

To apply to the University of Wisconsin – Madison, here’s what you need:

Required:

•  Academic record and grades

•  Letters of recommendation

•  Two essays

•  Secondary school GPA

Recommended:

•  SAT or ACT scores

SAT and ACT Scores

UW does not require test scores to be submitted through spring 2025. However, it may be helpful for you to know the scores other students have had:

Popular Majors at UW – Madison

UW offers a wealth of knowledge and many exciting majors to choose from. Here are the most popular majors.

1. Computer Science

At UW, you can earn either a BA or BS in computer science and get the chance to work with robots and hardware, learn to program software, and dive into machine learning.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 549

2. Economics

UW offers both a Bachelor of Arts and of Science in economics. Students learn to think analytically about how people, businesses, and governments respond to their economic environments.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 389

3. Psychology

Psychology students learn about different aspects of the field, as well as develop critical and quantitative thinking skills. They also learn how to develop communication skills orally and through writing.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 365

4. Biology

The University of Wisconsin – Madison offers BAs and BSs in biology. The program is a great launchpad for students who go on to graduate studies in medicine or healthcare.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 346

5. Business Finance

In this program, students dive into the theory of finance, security analysis and valuation, security trading, government policy and financial markets, financial forecasting, capital structure, financial risk management, venture capital, security issuance, and international finance.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 271

6. Nursing

UW offers a Bachelor of Science in nursing, as well as an accelerated program that can be completed in 12 months. Students learn how to make clinical decisions and apply theoretical knowledge in future careers in a variety of medical settings.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 244

7. Neurobiology

Not only do neurobiology students learn about basic biology, chemistry, physics, and neuroscience, but they also have the opportunity to participate in independent research in their field of interest.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 231

8. Political Science

Political science students study American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. They also sharpen their communication, problem-solving, and writing skills.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 224

9. Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies

The communication program offers both BAs and BS degrees and teaches communication theory, history, research, and criticism. Students learn about the social, psychological, and practical aspects of communication and human behavior.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 192

10. Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering students can choose an area of concentration including automatic control systems, renewable energy systems, robotics, product design, biomedical engineering, computational mechanics, and manufacturing systems engineering

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 180

This resource will give you more information on the majors at UW Madison.

Graduation Rate

Here are the graduation rates for students who started at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2015:

•  6 years: 89%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

After graduation, UW students earn on average $70,586 per year. This is more than the national average for graduates of four-year universities of $55,260 annually.