USAFA vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between United States Air Force Academy 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.

United States Air Force Academy
University of Wisconsin Madison

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • USAFA USAF Academy, Colorado
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • USAFA Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • USAFA 4,114
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • USAFA Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USAFA
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USAFA -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • USAFA Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USAFA
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USAFA $0
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USAFA $0
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • USAFA $0
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • USAFA -
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USAFA $0
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USAFA 10,187
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • USAFA 1,435
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USAFA 14.1%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • USAFA 78.5%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USAFA 1340
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • USAFA 29
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • USAFA 3.81
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USAFA A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • USAFA Very High
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • USAFA Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • USAFA 26/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • USAFA 1230/1440
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USAFA Required
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USAFA Dec 31, 2026
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USAFA 7:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USAFA
    • Engineering (35%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • General Studies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USAFA -
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USAFA N/A
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USAFA -
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USAFA N/A
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USAFA N/A
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USAFA 70%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • USAFA 30%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USAFA -
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • USAFA No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USAFA 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USAFA 6%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USAFA 91%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Air Force Academy in USAF Academy, Colorado 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 USAFA based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 4,114 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Air Force Academy is located in USAF Academy, Colorado (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • United States Air Force Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Air Force Academy 7:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

USAFA vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

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

  • In-state tuition differs between University of Wisconsin Madison and USAFA ($11,603.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between Wisconsin and United States Air Force Academy ($42,103.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wisconsin Madison than at United States Air Force Academy (35% vs. 0%).

USAFA vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USAFA 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 USAFA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 110 points higher than at USAFA (1340).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at USAFA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Air Force Academy 1230/1440; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: United States Air Force Academy 26/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USAFA - Required; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USAFA Dec 31, 2026; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at USAFA (3.81).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than USAFA (14.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 78.5% at USAFA vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

USAFA vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USAFA 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).

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.