Maryland vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of Maryland College Park 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 Maryland College Park
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Maryland College Park, MD
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Maryland Large Suburban
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Maryland 41,725
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Maryland Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Maryland #85
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Maryland -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Maryland Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Maryland
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Maryland $11,809
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Maryland $41,186
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Maryland $15,958
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Maryland $16,581
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Maryland $12,867
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Maryland 55%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Maryland 60,056
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Maryland 26,902
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Maryland 44.8%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Maryland 21.6%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Maryland 1470
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Maryland 33
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Maryland 3.84
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Maryland A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Maryland Elite
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Maryland Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Maryland 32/35
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Maryland 1400/1530
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Maryland Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Maryland
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Maryland 17:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Maryland
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Maryland 82%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Maryland $68,300
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Maryland 80%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Maryland $19,500
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Maryland $201
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Maryland 51%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Maryland 49%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Maryland High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Maryland No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Maryland 52%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Maryland 16%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Maryland 13%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Maryland 9%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Maryland 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Maryland 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Maryland 4%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Maryland 4%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Maryland 1%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Maryland 70%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Maryland 28%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Maryland College Park in College Park, MD 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 Maryland based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 41,725 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland College Park is located in College Park, MD (Large Suburban setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Maryland College Park 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 Maryland College Park 17:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Maryland vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maryland 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 Maryland ($14,235 vs. $16,581).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 11.5% lower than at University of Maryland College Park ($14,124 vs. $15,958).
  • University of Maryland College Park is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $206 more per year; $11,809.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Wisconsin than at University of Maryland College Park (about $917 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $41,186.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland College Park than at University of Wisconsin Madison (55% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 37.9% larger than aid received by University of Maryland College Park students ($17,741 vs. $12,867).

Maryland vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maryland 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 Maryland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland College Park (1470) is 20 points higher than at Wisconsin (1450).
  • Incoming Maryland students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at Wisconsin).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland College Park 32/35; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maryland - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Maryland (3.84).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than Maryland (44.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Maryland vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Maryland vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maryland 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 Maryland is the same as at University of Wisconsin Madison (82% vs. 82%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,300 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland College Park graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Maryland graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($201 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maryland students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

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.