University of Wisconsin-Madison

Name: University of Wisconsin-Madison Common Data Set 2020-21
Creator: University of Wisconsin-Madison
License: https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT

2020-21

The 2020-21 Common Data Set for University of Wisconsin-Madison — admissions, cost, and aid, as the school published them. Download the original file. See the school's page for these reports. This archive discovered the file on Apr 19, 2026. The school did not send Last-Modified and the file has no embedded date. Subscribe via RSS.

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First-year admissions & retention§C1 · §B22 →

Accept rate§C1

57.2%

26,289 of 45,941

Yield§C1

27.8%

7,306 enrolled

Applications§C1

45,941

Admitted§C1

26,289

Enrolled§C1

7,306

Retention§B22

95.2%

Full-time 1st-yr

Enrolled score bands (25th–75th percentile)§C9 →

SAT 25th§C9

1,300

27% SUB

§ Federal outcomes

Federal outcomes

Federal data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, vintage 2022-23. Outcomes reflect earlier cohorts than the CDS year shown elsewhere on this page.

Median earnings

SCORECARD

$73,792

10 yrs after enrollment

Graduation rate

SCORECARD

90%

6-year completion

Average net price

SCORECARD

$17,354

sticker minus grants

Median debt at grad.

SCORECARD

$20,484

federal loans only

Nonpayment

FSA

as-of late May 2026 · not the official cohort default rate

Nonpayment is the share of Direct Loan borrowers who entered repayment January 2020–May 2025 and were 90+ days delinquent at the FSA pull. It is not the official cohort default rate.

The numbers, as published

§ This report462numbers from this report.

General Information

4 TABLES

Respondent Information

First Name:Sara

Last Name:Lazenby

Title:Senior Policy and Planning Analyst

Office:Academic Planning and Institutional Research, Office of the Provost

Phone:608- 263-5945

Email Address:sara.lazenby@wisc.edu

Are your responses to the CDS posted for reference on your institution's Website?Yes

If yes, please provide the URL of the corresponding Web page:https://apir.wisc.edu/institution/common-data-set-and-

Address Information

Main Phone Number (Area Code)608

Main Phone Number:262-1234

WWW Home Page Address:https://www.wisc.edu

Admissions Office

Admissions Phone Number (Area Code):608

Admissions Phone Number:262-3961

Admissions Email Address:onwisconsin@admissions.wisc.edu

If there is a separate URL for your school’s online application, please specify:https://admissions.wisc.edu/how-do-i-

Degrees Offered

Bachelor'sX

Master'sX

Post-master's certificateX

Doctoral degree research/scholarshipX

Doctoral degree – professional practiceX

Enrollment And Persistence

4 TABLES

Enrollment by Racial/Ethnic Category

B2 enrollment by race and ethnicity

Undergraduate enrollment by race or ethnicity for first-time first-year, degree-seeking, and total undergraduate cohorts.

B2 enrollment by race and ethnicity. Undergraduate enrollment by race or ethnicity for first-time first-year, degree-seeking, and total undergraduate cohorts.
Measure	First-time first-year	Degree-seeking undergraduates	Total undergraduates
Nonresidents	550	2983	3093
Hispanic/Latino	520	1933	1992
Black or African American, non-Hispanic	176	642	716
White, non-Hispanic	4849	21508	22899
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	17	64	69
Asian, non-Hispanic	675	2463	2578
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	5	21	22
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	298	1137	1176
Race and/or ethnicity unknown	216	899	1040
Total	7306	31650	33585

Persistence

B3 degrees awarded

Degrees awarded by credential level in the reporting year.

B3 degrees awarded. Degrees awarded by credential level in the reporting year.
Measure	Number awarded
Certificate/diploma	Not reported
Associate degrees	Not reported
Bachelor's degrees	Not reported
Postbachelor's certificates	Not reported
Master's degrees	2349
Post-master's certificates	4
Doctoral degrees, research/scholarship	740
Doctoral degrees, professional practice	596
Doctoral degrees, other	Not reported

Graduation Rates

B4 current graduation-rate cohort

Four-year institution graduation-rate cohort counts and six-year graduation rates by aid-recipient category.

B4 current graduation-rate cohort. Four-year institution graduation-rate cohort counts and six-year graduation rates by aid-recipient category.
Measure	Pell Grant	Subsidized Stafford, no Pell	Neither Pell nor subsidized Stafford	Total
Initial cohort	1163	4352	6264	6264
Did not persist	0	0	0	0
Final cohort	1163	4352	6264	6264
Completed in less than four years	754	3007	4193	4193
Completed in less than five years	173	214	843	1230
Completed in less than six years	18	22	82	122
Total completers	623	990	3932	5545
Six-year graduation rate	83.2%	85.1%	90.3%	88.5%

B5 previous graduation-rate cohort

Four-year institution graduation-rate cohort counts and six-year graduation rates by aid-recipient category.

B5 previous graduation-rate cohort. Four-year institution graduation-rate cohort counts and six-year graduation rates by aid-recipient category.
Measure	Pell Grant	Subsidized Stafford, no Pell	Neither Pell nor subsidized Stafford	Total
Initial cohort	1219	4256	6339	6339
Did not persist	0	0	0	0
Final cohort	1219	4256	6339	6339
Completed in less than four years	754	2810	3973	3973
Completed in less than five years	245	272	939	1456
Completed in less than six years	27	24	76	127
Total completers	681	1050	3825	5556
Six-year graduation rate	78.8%	86.1%	89.9%	87.6%

Retention Rates

B22 first-year retention

First-time full-time bachelor's cohort retention count and rate.

B22 first-year retention. First-time full-time bachelor's cohort retention count and rate.
Measure	Value
Entering cohort	Not reported
Still enrolled next fall	Not reported
Retention rate	95.2%

First-Time, First-Year Admission

6 TABLES

Applications

C1 first-year admissions

First-time, first-year applicants, admits, and enrolled students by sex or status.

C1 first-year admissions. First-time, first-year applicants, admits, and enrolled students by sex or status.
Measure	Males	Females	Unknown sex	Total
Applied	23046	22895	Not reported	45,941
Admitted	12600	13689	Not reported	26,289
Enrolled	3438	3818	Not reported	7,256
Enrolled full-time	Not reported	3818	Not reported	Not reported
Enrolled part-time	29	21	Not reported	Not reported

Wait List

Number of qualified applicants offered a place on waiting list:8,913

Number accepting a place on the waiting list:5,085

Number of wait-listed students admitted:2,861

Admissions Requirements

Total academic units19

English4

Mathematics4

Science3

Foreign language3

Social studies3

Visual/Performing Arts2

Total academic units22

English4

Mathematics4

Science4

Of these, units that must be lab2

Foreign language4

Social studies4

Visual/Performing Arts2

Basis for Selection

C7 basis for selection

Relative importance of academic and nonacademic factors in first-year admissions decisions.

C7 basis for selection. Relative importance of academic and nonacademic factors in first-year admissions decisions.
Measure	Very important	Important	Considered	Not considered
Rigor of secondary school record	Yes	—	—	—
Class rank	Yes	—	—	—
Academic GPA	Yes	—	—	—
Standardized test scores	Yes	—	—	—
Application essay	Yes	—	—	—
Recommendations	Yes	—	—	—
Interview	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Extracurricular activities	Yes	—	—	—
Talent or ability	Yes	—	—	—
Character and personal qualities	Yes	—	—	—
First generation	Yes	—	—	—
Alumni relation	Yes	—	—	—
Geographical residence	Yes	—	—	—
State residency	Yes	—	—	—
Religious affiliation or commitment	Yes	—	—	—
Volunteer work	Yes	—	—	—
Work experience	Yes	—	—	—
Level of applicant interest	Yes	—	—	—

First-time, first-year Profile

C9 test-score submission

Share and count of enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT or ACT scores.

C9 test-score submission. Share and count of enrolled first-year students who submitted SAT or ACT scores.
Measure	Percent	Number
SAT	27	1968
ACT	78	5697

C9 test-score percentiles

Reported 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile scores for enrolled first-year students.

C9 test-score percentiles. Reported 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile scores for enrolled first-year students.
Measure	25th percentile	50th percentile	75th percentile
SAT composite	1300	1440	Not reported
SAT evidence-based reading and writing	610	690	Not reported
SAT math	650	770	Not reported
ACT composite	27	32	Not reported
ACT math	26	31	Not reported
ACT English	26	34	Not reported
ACT Writing	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
ACT Science	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
ACT Reading	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Other fields

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 700-80023

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 600-69959

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 500-59917

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 400-4991

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 300-3990

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 200-2990

SAT Math: 700-80057

SAT Math: 600-69933

SAT Math: 500-59910

SAT Math: 400-4991

SAT Math: 300-3990

SAT Math: 200-2990

SAT Composite: 1400-160043

SAT Composite: 1200-139949

SAT Composite: 1000-11998

SAT Composite: 800-9990

SAT Composite: 600-7990

SAT Composite: 400-5990

ACT Composite: 30-3647

ACT Composite: 24-2946

ACT Composite: 18-237

ACT Composite: 12-170

ACT Composite: 6-110

ACT Composite: Below 60

Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class51

Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class88

Percent in top half of high school graduating class99

Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class1

Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class0

Percent of total first-time, first-year students who submitted high school class rank:33

Percent who had GPA of 4.043

Percent who had GPA between 3.75 and 3.9937

Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.7415

Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.494

Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.241

Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.990

Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.490

Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.990

Percent who had GPA below 1.00

Admission Policies

Amount of application fee:60

Can it be waived for applicants with financial need?Yes

Application closing date (fall): Month02

Application closing date (fall): Day01

If yes, maximum period of postponement:1 Year

Transfer Admission

3 TABLES

Fall Applicants

D2 transfer admissions

Transfer applicants, admits, and enrolled students by reported sex or status.

D2 transfer admissions. Transfer applicants, admits, and enrolled students by reported sex or status.
Measure	Males	Females	Unknown	Total
Applied	1927	1598	Not reported	3525
Admitted	963	867	Not reported	1830
Enrolled	534	476	Not reported	1010

Application for Admission

Standardized test scoresNot Required

Statement of good standing from prior institution(s)Not Required

List any other application requirements specific to transfer applicants:⇒ Click or tap here to enter text.

Fall Closing Date: Month02

Spring Closing Date: Month10

Fall Notification Date: Month03

Spring Notification Date: Month12

Other

Fall Closing Date:Day01

Spring Closing Date: Day01

Fall Notification Date: Day01

Spring Notification Date: Day31

Academic Offerings and Policies

2 TABLES

Special Study Options

Accelerated programX

Distance learningX

Double majorX

Dual enrollmentX

Honors ProgramX

Independent studyX

InternshipsX

Liberal arts/career combinationX

Student-designed majorX

Study abroadX

Teacher certification programX

Required Course Work

English (including composition)X

Foreign languagesX

HistoryX

HumanitiesX

MathematicsX

PhilosophyX

Sciences (biological or physical)X

Social scienceX

Student Life

4 TABLES

Percent Participating

Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)44%

Percent of males who join fraternities9%

Percent of females who join sororities8%

Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing78%

Percent who live off campus or commute22%

Percent of students age 25 and older0%

Percent who are from out of state (exclude international/nonresidents from the numerator and denominator)39%

Percent of males who join fraternities9%

Percent of females who join sororities8%

Percent who live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing22%

Percent who live off campus or commute78%

Percent of students age 25 and older2%

Average Age

Average age of full-time students18

Average age of all students (full- and part-time)18

Average age of full-time students20

Average age of all students (full- and part-time)20

Activities Offered

Choral groupsX

Concert bandX

DanceX

Drama/theaterX

International Student OrganizationX

Jazz bandX

Literary magazineX

Marching bandX

Model UNX

Music ensemblesX

Musical theaterX

OperaX

Pep bandX

Radio stationX

Student governmentX

Student newspaperX

Student-run film societyX

Symphony orchestraX

Television stationX

YearbookX

Housing

Fraternity/sorority housingX

Cooperative housingX

Theme housingX

Wellness housingX

Annual Expenses

1 TABLE

Estimated Expenses

G5 estimated expenses

Estimated books, supplies, transportation, food, housing, and personal expenses by living arrangement.

G5 estimated expenses. Estimated books, supplies, transportation, food, housing, and personal expenses by living arrangement.
Measure	Residents	Commuters living at home	Commuters not living at home
Books and supplies	1150	1150	1150
Food only	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Housing only	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Food and housing total	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Transportation	750	750	1220
Other expenses	2316	2316	2316

Financial Aid

7 TABLES

Students Awarded Non-need-based Aid

H2A non-need-based aid

Non-need-based scholarship and grant aid recipients and average awards by undergraduate cohort.

H2A non-need-based aid. Non-need-based scholarship and grant aid recipients and average awards by undergraduate cohort.
Measure	First-year full-time	All undergraduates full-time	All undergraduates less-than-full-time
Institutional non-need grant recipients	362	2004	71
Average institutional non-need grant	6183	4783	3114
Athletic grant recipients	69	326	16
Average athletic grant	31600	33384	13623

Reporting Year

Academic Year2020-2021 estimated

Need-based Aid Awarded

Federal$25,588,096

State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located$11,592,421

Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).$83,436,061

Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college$5,811,116

Total Scholarships/Grants$126,427,694

Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)$31,200,853

Federal Work-Study$13,785,049

State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)$0

Total Self-Help$44,985,902

Parent Loans$6,199,392

Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.$11,782,515

Athletic Awards$2,805,422

Non-need-based Aid Awarded

Federal$125,551

State all states, not only the state in which your institution is located$2,955,294

Institutional: Endowed scholarships, annual gifts and tuition funded grants, awarded by the college, excluding athletic aid and tuition waivers (which are reported below).$12,066,113

Scholarships/grants from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) not awarded by the college$5,713,546

Total Scholarships/Grants$20,860,504

Student loans from all sources (excluding parent loans)$37,438,380

State and other (e.g., institutional) work-study/employment (Note: Excludes Federal Work-Study captured above.)$0

Total Self-Help$37,438,380

Parent Loans$12,465,735

Tuition Waivers Note: Reporting is optional. Report tuition waivers in this row if you choose to report them. Do not report tuition waivers elsewhere.$2,222,278

Athletic Awards$11,744,002

Students Awarded Aid

H2 students awarded aid

Need-based aid counts, need met, and average awards by undergraduate cohort.

H2 students awarded aid. Need-based aid counts, need met, and average awards by undergraduate cohort.
Measure	First-year full-time	All undergraduates full-time	All undergraduates less-than-full-time
Degree-seeking undergraduates	7256	29986	1664
Applied for need-based aid	5338	16578	610
Determined to have financial need	2883	10484	418
Awarded any aid	2659	9840	364
Awarded need-based scholarship or grant aid	2228	8084	306
Awarded need-based self-help aid	2083	7431	240
Awarded non-need-based scholarship or grant aid	279	880	13
Need fully met	1401	4903	110
Average percentage of need met	80	80	67
Average financial aid package	20561	18976	12491
Average need-based scholarship or grant	Not reported	16995	10327
Average need-based self-help award	Not reported	5862	5635
Average need-based loan	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Source Type Loan

H5 student loans

Graduating first-time student loan borrowers by loan source, share of class, and average per-borrower debt.

H5 student loans. Graduating first-time student loan borrowers by loan source, share of class, and average per-borrower debt.
Measure	Number in class	Percent of class	Average per borrower
Any loan program	2597	43	27889
Federal loan programs	2430	40	21644
Institutional loan programs	151	3	8065
State loan programs	0	0	0
Private student loans	633	10	29535

Institutional Aid

If your institution has recently implemented any major financial aid policy, program, or initiative to make your institution more affordable to incoming students such as replacing loans with grants, or waiving costs for families below a certain income level please provide details:⇒ Two new programs for Wisconsin Resident Students. Bucky’s Tuition Promise (https://financialaid.wisc.edu/types-of-aid/tuition-promise/) guarantees scholarships and grants to pay tuition and fees for incoming Wisconsin Resident students whose AGI is $56,000 or less. Badger Promise https://financialaid.wisc.edu/types- of-aid/badger-promise/ guarantees a period of free tuition and segregated fees to Wisconsin resident students who have transferred from any of the two-year UW Colleges or from liberal arts associate degree programs at Madison College (MATC), Milwaukee Area Technical College, Western Technical College, Nicolet College, the College of Menominee Nation, and the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College Are these policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic? ☐ Yes ☒ No Common Data Set 2020-2021

Instructional Faculty And Class Size

3 TABLES

Instructional Faculty

I1 instructional faculty

Instructional faculty counts by full-time status and selected demographic or credential category.

I1 instructional faculty. Instructional faculty counts by full-time status and selected demographic or credential category.
Measure	Full-time	Part-time	Total
Total instructional faculty	2614	426	3040
Members of minority groups	606	54	660
Females	1138	222	1360
Males	1476	204	1680
Nonresidents	124	4	128
Doctorate or other terminal degree	2382	257	2639
Master's, but not terminal master's	222	147	369
Bachelor's degree	9	23	32
Unknown or other highest degree	0	0	0
Stand-alone graduate/professional programs	432	60	492

Student to Faculty Ratio

Fall 2025 Student to Faculty ratio16.9

based on ____ students33

and ____ faculty2,304

Undergraduate Class Size

I3 undergraduate class size

Undergraduate class sections and subsections by enrollment size band.

I3 undergraduate class size. Undergraduate class sections and subsections by enrollment size band.
Measure	Class sections	Class subsections
2-9 students	Not reported	258
10-19 students	Not reported	258
20-29 students	Not reported	1269
30-39 students	Not reported	1671
40-49 students	Not reported	236
50-99 students	Not reported	47
100+ students	Not reported	53
Total	Not reported	4

Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred

1 TABLE

Bachelors

J degrees conferred by discipline

Percentage distribution of degrees conferred by discipline and award level.

J degrees conferred by discipline. Percentage distribution of degrees conferred by discipline and award level.
Measure	Certificate/diploma	Associate	Bachelor's
Agriculture	Not reported	Not reported	2.2%
Natural resources and conservation	Not reported	Not reported	2.1%
Architecture	Not reported	Not reported	0.2%
Area, ethnic, and gender studies	Not reported	Not reported	0.8%
Communication/journalism	Not reported	Not reported	5.3%
Communication technologies	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Computer and information sciences	Not reported	Not reported	6.5%
Personal and culinary services	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Education	Not reported	Not reported	2.4%
Engineering	Not reported	Not reported	10.4%
Engineering technologies	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics	Not reported	Not reported	2.8%
Family and consumer sciences	Not reported	Not reported	2.5%
Law/legal studies	Not reported	Not reported	1.0%
English	Not reported	Not reported	1.3%
Liberal arts/general studies	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Library science	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Biological/life sciences	Not reported	Not reported	11.7%
Mathematics and statistics	Not reported	Not reported	4.9%
Military science and military technologies	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Interdisciplinary studies	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Parks and recreation	Not reported	Not reported	0.9%
Philosophy and religious studies	Not reported	Not reported	0.7%
Theology and religious vocations	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Physical sciences	Not reported	Not reported	2.5%
Science technologies	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Psychology	Not reported	Not reported	4.8%
Homeland Security, law enforcement, firefighting, and protective services	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Public administration and social services	Not reported	Not reported	0.7%
Social sciences	Not reported	Not reported	11.3%
Construction trades	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Mechanic and repair technologies	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Precision production	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Transportation and materials moving	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Visual and performing arts	Not reported	Not reported	1.8%
Health professions and related programs	Not reported	Not reported	4.4%
Business/marketing	Not reported	Not reported	16.0%
History	Not reported	Not reported	1.4%
Other	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Total	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

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