University of Wisconsin - Madison College Portrait
University of Wisconsin - Madison500 Lincoln Drive Madison, WI 53706
608-262-3961
University of Wisconsin - Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a major research university, nationally and internationally renowned for its academic excellence, resources, faculty, commitment to undergraduate education, and dedication to out-of-classroom learning experiences.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the largest and most-respected universities in the United States, with more than 40,000 students and 380,000 living alumni. As the flagship institution of the Wisconsin state university system, UW-Madison has deep connections with its home state, but also a proud tradition of thinking and acting globally. Few institutions anywhere are more widely recognized as leaders in research, teaching, and public service. Often cited as one of the most picturesque university settings in the country, the UW-Madison campus is strikingly cosmopolitan, representing every state in the nation and hundreds of countries. Growing with the times to meet changing needs in education and research has kept UW-Madison great. With an eye to the future, we continue to change, guaranteeing a community and environment where true learning can take place.
Living in the Wisconsin Experience Community
The Wisconsin Experience is everything that takes place between your first-year experience and graduation. Rich and engaging in and out-of-classroom experiences combined with creative and energetic students produces graduates who are extraordinary citizens, respected community members and global leaders.
The Wisconsin Experience prepares UW-Madison students to become outstanding leaders who are engaged citizens of their local, national and global communities. The Wisconsin Experience – the notion that we apply learning inside and outside the classroom in ways that make the world a better place – demonstrates that what we do matters. The Wisconsin Experience produces graduates who are creative problem solvers, able to integrate empirical analysis and passion, seek out and create new knowledge and technologies, adapt to new situations, and engage as world citizens. Learn how a Wisconsin Experience could be part of your future and how you can contribute your creativity and energy to create a better world.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
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| Total Students | 42,595 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 30,555 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 15,762 | 52% |
| Men | 14,793 | 48% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 119 | <1% |
| Asian | 1,659 | 5% |
| African American / Black | 754 | 2% |
| Hispanic | 1,176 | 4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 27 | <1% |
| White | 23,632 | 77% |
| Two or More Races | 454 | 1% |
| International | 1,918 | 6% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 816 | 3% |
| Where do UW-Madison undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 64% |
| Other US States & Territories | 30% |
| Other Countries | 6% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are UW-Madison undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 20 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 4% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 26 - 30 | |
| Math | 26 - 31 | 620 - 750 |
| English | 26 - 31 | |
| Critical Reading | 530 - 670 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 93% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 99% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 65% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.69 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 92% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,617
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 23% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,857. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 31% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $5,500. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UW-Madison Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 17 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 68% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 82% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 2,399 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 36% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 17% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 91% |
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Campus-based Housing
87% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
25% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The entire UW-Madison community plays a role in a maintaining a safe environment for our education and research. Resources about many facets of safety -- fire prevention, transportation, weather, physical/mental health care, personal protection, and security of personal belongings -- are regularly provided to all students. Our on-campus University Police department is a national leader in campus safety issues. We strive to build a safety-conscious campus community and to stress the importance of personal responsibility for individual safety to our students.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Majority undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, lower transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Arts & sciences plus professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at UW-Madison
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 95% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 55% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 31% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 91% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 32% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 61% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 69% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 26% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 94% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 95% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 62% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 60% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 91% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 46% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 69% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 95% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 66% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 61% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 89% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 48% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 87% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 91% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 81% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 6,558 |
| Master's | 1,919 |
| Doctoral | 1,355 |
| Total | 9,832 |
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| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General | 7% |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General | 7% |
| Economics, General | 7% |
| History, General | 6% |
| Psychology, General | 5% |
| Links to degree programs at University of Wisconsin - Madison |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 96% four-year success and progress rate means that 96% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 5,617 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,037 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 95%
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Student Learning at University of Wisconsin - Madison
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
At UW-Madison, our assessment captures the core sets of skills, abilities and knowledge that we believe contribute to our record of turning out extraordinary national and global leaders. These student outcomes include: 1) the ability to think critically and creatively to solve real-world problems; 2) the ability to actively seek, evaluate and apply, and when needed, create new knowledge; 3) the ability to adapt to new technologies and situations; 4) the ability to work with a wide range of people. Please visit the "Essential Learning Outcomes" on this site to learn more about the set of student learning outcomes we consider essential to a UW-Madison education.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
We are in the process of analyzing our CAAP results.