Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Minnesota Michigan Illinois Ohio State UW-Seattle Purdue Maryland UT Austin Iowa ISU IU UCSD| University of Nebraska Lincoln | University of Wisconsin Madison | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Nebraska | Wisconsin | ||
| Location | Lincoln, NE | Madison, WI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 23,986 | 49,605 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #318 | #110 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | unl.edu | wisc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Nebraska | Wisconsin | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,010 | $9,644 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,650 | $39,042 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,856 | $13,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,029 | $14,216 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,554 | $11,350 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 49% |
Admission |
Nebraska | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 18,354 | 63,505 | ||
| Admitted | 14,146 | 27,529 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.1% | 43.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 33.2% | 28.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.63 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1330 | 1360/1510 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Nebraska | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Nebraska | Wisconsin | ||
| Graduation Rate | 67% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,600 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 73% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,700 | $22,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $224 | $230 |
Diversity |
Nebraska | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Nebraska | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 75% | 48% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 24% | 44% | ||
Campus |
Nebraska | Wisconsin | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than than Nebraska based on total student enrollment (49,605 students vs. 23,986 students)
Nebraska vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Nebraska or Wisconsin?
- University of Wisconsin Madison is 20.4% more expensive to attend than Nebraska for in-state tuition ($9,644.00 vs. $8,010.00)
- Out of state tuition is 52.2% higher at Wisconsin than University of Nebraska Lincoln ($39,042.00 vs. $25,650.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Nebraska ($14,216 vs. $18,029)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 2.6% lower than costs at University of Nebraska Lincoln ($13,500 vs. $13,856)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nebraska Lincoln than University of Wisconsin Madison (93% vs. 49%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 18.8% larger than aid received University of Nebraska Lincoln ($11,350 vs. $9,554)
Nebraska vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Nebraska or Wisconsin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wisconsin or Nebraska .
- The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Madison (1300) is 155 points higher than at Nebraska (1145)
- Incoming Wisconsin students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Nebraska (25)
- Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Nebraska (3.63)
- Nebraska has a higher acceptance rate (77.1%) than Wisconsin (43.3%)
Nebraska vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Nebraska or Wisconsin? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Wisconsin and Nebraska.
- The graduation rate at Wisconsin is higher than University of Nebraska Lincoln (82% vs. 67%)
- Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn on average $15,200 more per year than Nebraska graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $49,600)
- University of Nebraska Lincoln students graduate with a $550 lower median federal student loan debt than Wisconsin graduates. ($21,700 vs. $22,250)
- Nebraska graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Wisconsin graduates. ($224 vs. $230)
- More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nebraska students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 73%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/