Florida vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of Florida 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 Florida
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Gainesville, FL
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Florida Midsize City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida 56,311
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Florida Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida #74
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Florida Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida $6,381
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida $28,659
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Florida $12,120
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida $11,936
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida $10,846
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida 91%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida 73,557
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Florida 17,804
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida 24.2%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida 42.2%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida 1400
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida 31
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida 3.9
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida A
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Exceptional
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Florida 29/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Florida 1320/1480
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Required
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Mar 1, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida 16:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida 84%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida $62,600
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida 68%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida $15,815
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida $163
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida 44%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Florida 56%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Florida No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Florida 57%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Florida 8%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Florida 6%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida 21%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Florida 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida 1%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida 3%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Florida 1%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida 3%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida 73%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida 19%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Florida in Gainesville, FL with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Florida is larger than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (56,311 students vs. 51,044 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Florida is located in Gainesville, FL (Midsize City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Florida 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 Florida 16:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Florida vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida 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 Florida than Wisconsin ($11,936 vs. $14,235).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Florida are 14.2% lower than at University of Wisconsin Madison ($12,120 vs. $14,124).
  • University of Wisconsin Madison is 81.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida (about $5,222 more per year; $11,603.00 vs. $6,381.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.9% higher at Wisconsin than at University of Florida (about $13,444 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $28,659.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Florida than at University of Wisconsin Madison (91% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 63.6% larger than aid received by University of Florida students ($17,741 vs. $10,846).

Florida vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida 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 Florida.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 50 points higher than at Florida (1400).
  • Incoming Florida students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Wisconsin (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Florida 1320/1480; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Florida 29/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida - Required; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Mar 1, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Florida students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Wisconsin (3.88).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than Florida (24.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.2% at Florida vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Florida vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida 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 Florida's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Florida graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $62,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Florida graduates have a $6,435 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($15,815 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Florida graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($163 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida 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.