University of Wisconsin acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Wisconsin is a public university in Wisconsin that admits roughly 45% of applicants, which puts it in the selective range. A rate like this means it admits a minority of applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what University of Wisconsin weighs, where it ranks among Wisconsin schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1440, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
University of Wisconsin application deadlines, 2026-27 · University of Wisconsin supplemental essays, 2026-27
What do students study at University of Wisconsin?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Wisconsin?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Wisconsin, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Wisconsin?
At University of Wisconsin, your real chance depends on far more than the published 45% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Wisconsin in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Wisconsin hard to get into?
University of Wisconsin is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 45% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Wisconsin?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Wisconsin, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. University of Wisconsin reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Wisconsin by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Wisconsin for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Wisconsin with a 3.5 GPA and a 1450 SAT?
About 72% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1450 SAT, the middle of University of Wisconsin's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1520 SAT comes out near 87%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-wisconsin.
How to get into University of Wisconsin
Built from University of Wisconsin's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
Getting into University of Wisconsin comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Wisconsin carries about a 3.51 core GPA and a 1470 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 1380 to 1520 SAT (29 to 33 ACT). Submit a score at 1450 or higher; below 1380, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of Wisconsin rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of Wisconsin's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.wisc.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of Wisconsin, and how many get in?
63,505 students applied to University of Wisconsin for fall 2023; 27,529 were admitted (43.3%). 7,964 enrolled. Only about 29% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Wisconsin enrolls about 36,902 undergraduates in total, 53% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Wisconsin?
Admitted students at University of Wisconsin post SAT scores of 1380 to 1520 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1427. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 29 to 33. A score above 1520 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1380 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Wisconsin is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Wisconsin looks for
What University of Wisconsin weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
University of Wisconsin signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Wisconsin's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Wisconsin
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Wisconsin cost after financial aid?
The full sticker price at University of Wisconsin (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $28,679 a year. Tuition and fees are $11,603 for WI residents and $42,103 for out-of-state students, a $30,500 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,354 a year, and it ranges from $4,200 for families earning under $30,000 to $27,292 for families earning over $110,000. 16% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Wisconsin graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Median earnings for University of Wisconsin students ten years after entry are $73,792 ($61,275 at the six-year mark). 90% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 96% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $20,484; 20% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Wisconsin compares in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin ranks #1 most selective of 23 schools in Wisconsin in our database.
Among the 23 Wisconsin schools we track, University of Wisconsin ranks the most selective by acceptance rate. Nothing else in the state is harder to get into; the next tier down includes Mount Mary University at 62%. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Wisconsin
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If University of Wisconsin is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Alcorn State University, Grambling State University, and University of Maryland. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Wisconsin's acceptance rate?
University of Wisconsin admitted 27,529 of 63,505 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 43.3% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 29% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Wisconsin?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1380 to 1520 on the SAT and 29 to 33 on the ACT. A score above 1520 is in the top quarter of admits. University of Wisconsin is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of Wisconsin test-optional?
Yes. University of Wisconsin reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Wisconsin cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Wisconsin, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $17,354 a year against a sticker price of about $28,679. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $4,200 on average.
What do University of Wisconsin graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Wisconsin are $73,792 a year among students who received federal aid, and 90% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Wisconsin value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Wisconsin weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Wisconsin favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Wisconsin generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Wisconsin?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Wisconsin specifically.
How does residency affect admission to University of Wisconsin?
As a public university, University of Wisconsin typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.