Admission & test scores

University of Wisconsin–Madison SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1380–1520 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 29. University of Wisconsin–Madison admits 45% of applicants — moderately selective. 96% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1380–1520middle half of admits

ACT midpoint29admitted students

Acceptance rate45%moderately selective

First-year retention96%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile

1380

Average

1427

75th percentile

1520

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1380 and a quarter above 1520. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 36,902.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

University	Avg SAT	ACT	Acceptance	In-state tuition
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, Indiana	1427	31	77%	$58,649
Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas	1428	33	63%	$67,040
Santa Clara University Santa Clara, California	1426	32	48%	$61,293
Yeshiva University New York, New York	1426	—	56%	$51,800
Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio	1429	33	31%	$71,520
Lafayette College Easton, Pennsylvania	1424	32	31%	$65,398

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

University of Wisconsin–Madison admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for University of Wisconsin–Madison?

The middle half of admitted students scored between 1380 and 1520 on the SAT, with an average of 1427. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.

What ACT score does University of Wisconsin–Madison require?

The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 29.

How hard is it to get into University of Wisconsin–Madison?

University of Wisconsin–Madison admits 45% of applicants, which is moderately selective. Of those who enrol, 96% return for a second year.

Does University of Wisconsin–Madison require SAT or ACT scores?

This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.

What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.