Butler vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Butler University and University of Wisconsin Madison? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Butler University
University of Wisconsin Madison

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Butler #209
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Butler -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Butler Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Butler
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Butler $16,430
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Butler $38,438
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Butler 97%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Butler A
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Butler
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Butler 26/31
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Butler 72%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Butler 84%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Butler $279
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Butler 38%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Butler 62%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Butler Very Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Butler No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Butler 82%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Butler 3%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Butler 4%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Butler 4%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Butler 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Butler 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Butler 2%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Butler 1%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Butler 4%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Butler 51%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Butler 48%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Butler Yes
  • Wisconsin Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Butler Yes
  • Wisconsin No
  • Meal Plan
  • Butler Yes
  • Wisconsin Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Butler No
  • Wisconsin No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Butler No
  • Wisconsin Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than Butler based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 5,746 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Butler vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Butler or Wisconsin? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Butler ($14,235 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 14% lower than at Butler University ($14,124 vs. $16,430).
  • Butler University is 309.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $35,957 more per year; $47,560.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13% higher at Butler than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $5,457 more per year; $47,560.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Butler University than at University of Wisconsin Madison (97% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Butler University students is 56.6% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($27,790 vs. $17,741).

Butler vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Butler or Wisconsin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Wisconsin and Butler.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 190 points higher than at Butler (1260).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at Butler).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 1160/1350; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 26/31; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Butler - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Wisconsin (3.88).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Butler vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Butler and Wisconsin? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Butler University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Butler University earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,400 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($22,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wisconsin graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($230 vs. $279).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wisconsin students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.