UMass vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst
University of Wisconsin Madison

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA 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 UMass based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 31,726 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

UMass vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 UMass ($14,235 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 15.5% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($14,124 vs. $16,710).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 53.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $6,169 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Wisconsin than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $1,654 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at University of Wisconsin Madison (81% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 35.3% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($17,741 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass or Wisconsin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Wisconsin and UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 40 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming UMass students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 31) as students at Wisconsin (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman UMass students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Wisconsin (3.88).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

UMass vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Wisconsin? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University of Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($22,250 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wisconsin graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($230 vs. $248).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 76%)

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.