First-year admissions

University of Wisconsin-Madison acceptance rate

University of Wisconsin-Madison admitted 40.8% of first-year applicants for fall 2025 (30,167 of 73,912), the lowest in the five years with figures, down from 43.3% for fall 2023. Most of the drop came in one year, from 60.3% for fall 2021 to 49.0% for fall 2022, when applications rose from 53,829 to 60,260 and admits fell from 32,466 to 29,546. Usable figures for fall 2024 are not in our archive.

University of Wisconsin-Madison’s acceptance rate, fall 2020–2025

Share of first-year applicants admitted, by fall entering class. — = not reported or not usable.

University of Wisconsin-Madison first-year acceptance rate, applicants, admits, enrolled, and yield by entering class, newest first.
Year	Acceptance rate	Applied	Admitted	Enrolled	Yield	Source
Fall 20252025–26 report	40.8%	73,912	30,167	8,495	28.2%	XLSX
Fall 20242024–25 report	—	Report on file; counts not usable
Fall 20232023–24 report	43.3%	63,537	27,527	—	—	PDF
Fall 20222022–23 report	49.0%	60,260	29,546	8,628	29.2%	PDF
Fall 20212021–22 report	60.3%	53,829	32,466	8,465	26.1%	PDF
Fall 20202020–21 report	57.2%	45,941	26,289	7,306	27.8%	PDF

Source: Common Data Set reports published by University of Wisconsin-Madison, section C1 (first-time, first-year, degree-seeking students). Note: Acceptance rate is admitted ÷ applied; yield is enrolled ÷ admitted. Each year is the class entering that fall; the 2024–25 report covers fall 2024. — = not reported or not usable.