Rutgers vs. Wisconsin

Should I go to Rutgers University New Brunswick or University of Wisconsin Madison? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rutgers or Wisconsin is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

NJIT Minnesota TCNJ Michigan Illinois Penn State Seton Hall University Ohio State Rutgers University-Camden SUNY Stony Brook UW-Seattle Purdue
Rutgers University New Brunswick vs. University of Wisconsin Madison comparison
Rutgers University New Brunswick University of Wisconsin Madison College 3 College 4
Rutgers University New Brunswick University of Wisconsin Madison
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Rutgers Wisconsin
Location New Brunswick, NJ Madison, WI
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 50,637 48,956
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #112 #105
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu wisc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rutgers Wisconsin
Tuition (In State) $12,900 $9,273
Tuition (Out of State) $30,600 $37,904
Room & Board $13,909 $12,894
Avg Net Price $17,535 $13,376
Avg Grant Aid $12,785 $11,171
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 47%

Admission

Rutgers Wisconsin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 41,654 60,214
Admitted 27,612 29,539
Acceptance Rate 66.3% 49.1%
Enrolled % 28.2% 29.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.88
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/33 26/32
SAT Range 1270/1480 1340/1510
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Rutgers Wisconsin
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Rutgers Wisconsin
Graduation Rate 77% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $64,800
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $229 $230

Diversity

Rutgers Wisconsin
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 42% 76%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 13% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 8%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Rutgers Wisconsin
% In-State 85% 43%
% Out-of-State 8% 47%

Campus

Rutgers Wisconsin
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (50,637 students vs. 48,956 students)

Rutgers vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Wisconsin?

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 39.1% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($12,900.00 vs. $9,273.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.9% higher at Wisconsin than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($37,904.00 vs. $30,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Rutgers ($13,376 vs. $17,535)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 7.9% lower than costs at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($12,894 vs. $13,909)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than University of Wisconsin Madison (57% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 14.4% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Madison ($12,785 vs. $11,171)

Rutgers vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or Wisconsin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wisconsin or Rutgers .

  • The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Madison (1300) is 75 points higher than at Rutgers (1225)
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than Wisconsin (49.1%)

Rutgers vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers or Wisconsin? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Wisconsin and Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at Wisconsin is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick (82% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn on average $1,400 more per year than Wisconsin graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $64,800)
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick students graduate with a $35 lower median federal student loan debt than Wisconsin graduates. ($22,215 vs. $22,250)
  • Rutgers graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Wisconsin graduates. ($229 vs. $230)
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/