UC Berkeley vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of California Berkeley 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 California Berkeley
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Berkeley -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • UC Berkeley Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Berkeley
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley 53%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Berkeley A
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Berkeley 30/35
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UC Berkeley 1310/1530
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Berkeley $146
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • UC Berkeley 54%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • UC Berkeley No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • UC Berkeley 27%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • UC Berkeley 35%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • UC Berkeley 2%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Berkeley 5%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Berkeley 3%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Berkeley 84%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Berkeley 9%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA 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 UC Berkeley based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 45,882 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California Berkeley 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 California Berkeley 18:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

UC Berkeley vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley ($14,235 vs. $16,538).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 40.5% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($14,124 vs. $23,750).
  • University of California Berkeley is 40.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $4,744 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.1% higher at UC Berkeley than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $8,444 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Berkeley than at University of Wisconsin Madison (53% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 66.9% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($29,608 vs. $17,741).

UC Berkeley vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 30 points higher than at UC Berkeley (1420).
  • Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Wisconsin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

UC Berkeley vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley 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 California Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $8,050 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($14,200 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $84 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($146 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Berkeley students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 79%)

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.