Minnesota vs. Wisconsin

Should I go to University of Minnesota Twin Cities or University of Wisconsin Madison? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Minnesota 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.

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University of Minnesota Twin Cities vs. University of Wisconsin Madison comparison
University of Minnesota Twin Cities University of Wisconsin Madison College 3 College 4
University of Minnesota Twin Cities University of Wisconsin Madison
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Overview

Minnesota Wisconsin
Location Minneapolis, MN Madison, WI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 54,955 48,956
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #140 #105
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umn.edu wisc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Minnesota Wisconsin
Tuition (In State) $14,006 $9,273
Tuition (Out of State) $33,246 $37,904
Room & Board $11,894 $12,894
Avg Net Price $16,018 $13,376
Avg Grant Aid $11,388 $11,171
% Receiving Grant Aid 63% 47%

Admission

Minnesota Wisconsin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 38,050 60,214
Admitted 28,504 29,539
Acceptance Rate 74.9% 49.1%
Enrolled % 23.6% 29.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/32 26/32
SAT Range 1290/1500 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 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Minnesota Wisconsin
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Minnesota Wisconsin
Graduation Rate 70% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,200 $64,800
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,185 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $208 $230

Diversity

Minnesota Wisconsin
% Men 44% 47%
% Women 56% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 76%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 9% 8%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Minnesota Wisconsin
% In-State 68% 43%
% Out-of-State 26% 47%

Campus

Minnesota 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

  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is larger than than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (54,955 students vs. 48,956 students)

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Minnesota or Wisconsin?

  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is 51% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($14,006.00 vs. $9,273.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14% higher at Wisconsin than University of Minnesota Twin Cities ($37,904.00 vs. $33,246.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Minnesota ($13,376 vs. $16,018)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Minnesota Twin Cities are 8.4% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Madison ($11,894 vs. $12,894)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Minnesota Twin Cities than University of Wisconsin Madison (63% vs. 47%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Minnesota Twin Cities students is 1.9% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Madison ($11,388 vs. $11,171)

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Madison (1300) is 12 points higher than at Minnesota (1288)
  • Incoming Minnesota students have at the same average ACT score (29) as students at Wisconsin (29)
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Minnesota (3.75)
  • Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (74.9%) than Wisconsin (49.1%)

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Minnesota 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 Minnesota.

  • The graduation rate at Wisconsin is higher than University of Minnesota Twin Cities (82% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn on average $6,600 more per year than Minnesota graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $58,200)
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities students graduate with a $2,065 lower median federal student loan debt than Wisconsin graduates. ($20,185 vs. $22,250)
  • Minnesota graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Wisconsin graduates. ($208 vs. $230)
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 74%)

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