Georgia vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of Georgia 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 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Georgia
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Georgia Athens, GA
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Georgia Midsize City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Enrollment
  • Georgia 43,146
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Georgia Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Georgia #136
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Georgia -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Georgia Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Georgia
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Georgia $11,450
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Georgia $31,688
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Georgia $11,672
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Georgia $16,662
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Georgia $11,674
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Georgia 89%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Georgia 42,732
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Georgia 16,108
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Georgia 37.7%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Georgia 38.3%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Georgia 1380
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Georgia 31
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Georgia 4.0
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Georgia A/A+
  • Wisconsin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Georgia Exceptional
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Georgia High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Georgia 29/34
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Georgia 1270/1480
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Georgia Required to be considered for admission
  • Wisconsin Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Georgia Jan 1, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Georgia 17:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Georgia
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (6%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Georgia 82%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Georgia $56,400
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Georgia 67%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Georgia $19,146
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Georgia $197
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Georgia 9%
  • Wisconsin 12%
  • % Women
  • Georgia 16%
  • Wisconsin 13%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Georgia Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Georgia No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Georgia 71%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Georgia 10%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Georgia 7%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Georgia 5%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Georgia 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Georgia 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Georgia 4%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Georgia 2%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Georgia 1%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Georgia 81%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Georgia 19%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Georgia in Athens, GA 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 Georgia based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 43,146 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Georgia is located in Athens, GA (Midsize City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Georgia 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 Georgia 17:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Georgia vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgia 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 Georgia ($14,235 vs. $16,662).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Georgia are 17.4% lower than at University of Wisconsin Madison ($11,672 vs. $14,124).
  • University of Wisconsin Madison is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Georgia (about $153 more per year; $11,603.00 vs. $11,450.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.9% higher at Wisconsin than at University of Georgia (about $10,415 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $31,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Georgia than at University of Wisconsin Madison (89% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 52% larger than aid received by University of Georgia students ($17,741 vs. $11,674).

Georgia vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Georgia 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 Georgia.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 70 points higher than at Georgia (1380).
  • Incoming Georgia 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 Georgia 1270/1480; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Georgia 29/34; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Georgia - Required to be considered for admission; Wisconsin - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Georgia Jan 1, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Georgia students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Wisconsin (3.88).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than Georgia (37.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.3% at Georgia vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Georgia vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Georgia 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).

  • The graduation rate at Georgia is the same as at University of Wisconsin Madison (82% vs. 82%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than Georgia graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $56,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Georgia graduates have a $3,104 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($19,146 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Georgia graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($197 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Georgia students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 67%)

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.