Rutgers vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
University of Wisconsin Madison

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 51,044 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Rutgers vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers ($14,235 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 10.1% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($14,124 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 54.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $6,326 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.5% higher at Wisconsin than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $4,662 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at University of Wisconsin Madison (50% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 6% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($17,741 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 40 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Rutgers vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $35 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($22,215 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($229 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 68%)

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.