Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN 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 Notre Dame based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 13,042 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame ($14,235 vs. $29,300).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 21.1% lower than at University of Notre Dame ($14,124 vs. $17,900).
  • University of Notre Dame is 460.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $53,422 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.4% higher at Notre Dame than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $22,922 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Notre Dame than at University of Wisconsin Madison (61% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Notre Dame students is 204.2% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($53,971 vs. $17,741).

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 60 points higher than at Wisconsin (1450).
  • Incoming Notre Dame students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Wisconsin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Notre Dame students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Wisconsin (3.88).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn a median of about $25,000 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Notre Dame graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Notre Dame graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($222 vs. $230).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wisconsin students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 84%)

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.