UT Dallas vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between The University of Texas at Dallas 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.

The University of Texas at Dallas
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UT Dallas Richardson, TX
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • UT Dallas Small City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UT Dallas 29,886
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • UT Dallas Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UT Dallas #242
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UT Dallas -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • UT Dallas Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UT Dallas
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UT Dallas $14,644
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UT Dallas $40,144
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • UT Dallas $14,430
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • UT Dallas $14,916
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UT Dallas $14,909
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UT Dallas 64%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UT Dallas 31,789
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • UT Dallas 20,704
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UT Dallas 65.1%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UT Dallas 20.3%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UT Dallas 1290
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UT Dallas 28
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UT Dallas 3.78
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UT Dallas A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UT Dallas Very High
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UT Dallas Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • UT Dallas 24/32
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UT Dallas 1160/1410
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UT Dallas Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UT Dallas May 1, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UT Dallas 23:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UT Dallas
    • Business (32%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UT Dallas 61%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UT Dallas $59,000
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UT Dallas 64%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UT Dallas $18,750
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UT Dallas $193
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UT Dallas 56%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • UT Dallas 44%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UT Dallas Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • UT Dallas No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • UT Dallas 37%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • UT Dallas 29%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • UT Dallas 6%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UT Dallas 18%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • UT Dallas 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UT Dallas 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UT Dallas 4%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • UT Dallas 3%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UT Dallas 2%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UT Dallas 92%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UT Dallas 5%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX 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 UT Dallas based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 29,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Texas at Dallas is located in Richardson, TX (Small City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

UT Dallas vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UT Dallas 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 UT Dallas ($14,235 vs. $14,916).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 2.1% lower than at The University of Texas at Dallas ($14,124 vs. $14,430).
  • The University of Texas at Dallas is 26.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $3,041 more per year; $14,644.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Wisconsin than at The University of Texas at Dallas (about $1,959 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $40,144.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at University of Wisconsin Madison (64% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 19% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students ($17,741 vs. $14,909).

UT Dallas vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UT Dallas 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 UT Dallas.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 160 points higher than at UT Dallas (1290).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UT Dallas - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UT Dallas May 1, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UT Dallas (3.78).
  • UT Dallas has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at UT Dallas vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

UT Dallas vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UT Dallas 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 The University of Texas at Dallas's (61%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than UT Dallas graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Dallas graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($18,750 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, UT Dallas graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($193 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 64%)

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.