UCLA vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles 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.

University of California Los Angeles
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA 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 UCLA based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 47,335 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

UCLA vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 UCLA ($14,235 vs. $14,512).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 23.1% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($14,124 vs. $18,369).
  • University of California Los Angeles is 31% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $3,600 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.3% higher at UCLA than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $7,300 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Los Angeles than at University of Wisconsin Madison (49% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 44.5% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($25,627 vs. $17,741).

UCLA vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 30 points higher than at UCLA (1420).
  • Incoming UCLA students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Wisconsin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Wisconsin (3.88).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

UCLA vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $5,950 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($16,300 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($168 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)

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.