UVA vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of Virginia Main Campus 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 Virginia Main Campus
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • UVA Small City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UVA 26,409
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UVA #58
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UVA -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • UVA Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UVA
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UVA $21,803
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UVA $59,512
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • UVA $14,800
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • UVA $18,427
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UVA $28,715
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UVA 39%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UVA 58,951
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • UVA 9,909
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UVA 40%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UVA 1480
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UVA 33
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UVA 3.85
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UVA A
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UVA Elite
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UVA Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • UVA 32/35
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UVA 1410/1540
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UVA Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UVA
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UVA 15:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UVA 94%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UVA $77,200
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UVA 86%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UVA $19,500
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UVA $201
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UVA 45%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • UVA 55%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UVA Medium
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • UVA No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • UVA 60%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • UVA 13%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • UVA 6%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UVA 6%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • UVA 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UVA 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UVA 5%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • UVA 5%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UVA 6%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UVA 66%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UVA 29%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA 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 UVA based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 26,409 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Virginia Main Campus is located in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Virginia Main Campus 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 Virginia Main Campus 15:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

UVA vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UVA 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 UVA ($14,235 vs. $18,427).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 4.6% lower than at University of Virginia Main Campus ($14,124 vs. $14,800).
  • University of Virginia Main Campus is 87.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $10,200 more per year; $21,803.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.3% higher at UVA than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $17,409 more per year; $59,512.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Virginia Main Campus than at University of Wisconsin Madison (39% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 61.9% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($28,715 vs. $17,741).

UVA vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UVA 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 UVA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Virginia Main Campus (1480) is 30 points higher than at Wisconsin (1450).
  • Incoming UVA students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Wisconsin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UVA - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UVA (3.85).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than UVA (16.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40% at UVA vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

UVA vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UVA 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 Virginia Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $12,400 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Virginia Main Campus graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, UVA graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($201 vs. $230).
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wisconsin students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.