UT Austin vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between The University of Texas at Austin 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.

The University of Texas at Austin
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UT Austin Austin, TX
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • UT Austin Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UT Austin 53,864
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • UT Austin Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UT Austin #105
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UT Austin -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • UT Austin Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UT Austin
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UT Austin $11,688
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UT Austin $44,908
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • UT Austin $14,828
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • UT Austin $17,942
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UT Austin $13,681
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UT Austin 42%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UT Austin 72,885
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • UT Austin 19,417
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UT Austin 26.6%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UT Austin 47.4%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UT Austin 1380
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UT Austin 30
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UT Austin 3.8
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UT Austin A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UT Austin Exceptional
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UT Austin High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • UT Austin 27/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UT Austin 1250/1510
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UT Austin Required
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UT Austin Dec 1, 2026
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UT Austin 18:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UT Austin
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UT Austin 81%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UT Austin $68,600
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UT Austin 77%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UT Austin $22,250
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UT Austin $230
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UT Austin 44%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • UT Austin 56%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UT Austin Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • UT Austin No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • UT Austin 44%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • UT Austin 20%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • UT Austin 4%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UT Austin 22%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • UT Austin 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UT Austin 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UT Austin 4%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • UT Austin 5%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UT Austin 1%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UT Austin 87%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UT Austin 8%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (53,864 students vs. 51,044 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, TX (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Texas at Austin 18:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

UT Austin vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UT Austin 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 UT Austin ($14,235 vs. $17,942).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 4.7% lower than at The University of Texas at Austin ($14,124 vs. $14,828).
  • The University of Texas at Austin is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $85 more per year; $11,688.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at UT Austin than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $2,805 more per year; $44,908.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Austin than at University of Wisconsin Madison (42% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 29.7% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($17,741 vs. $13,681).

UT Austin vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UT Austin 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 UT Austin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 70 points higher than at UT Austin (1380).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at UT Austin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas at Austin 27/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UT Austin - Required; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UT Austin Dec 1, 2026; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UT Austin (3.8).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than UT Austin (26.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.4% at UT Austin vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

UT Austin vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UT Austin 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 The University of Texas at Austin's (81%).
  • Graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,600 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison and UT Austin graduates have the same median loan debt ($22,250 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Wisconsin Madison and UT Austin graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($230 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 77%)

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.