UW-Seattle vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between University of Washington Seattle Campus 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 Washington Seattle Campus
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UW-Seattle Seattle, WA
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • UW-Seattle Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UW-Seattle 56,997
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • UW-Seattle Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UW-Seattle #90
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UW-Seattle -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • UW-Seattle Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UW-Seattle
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UW-Seattle $12,973
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UW-Seattle $43,209
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • UW-Seattle $18,405
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • UW-Seattle $11,784
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UW-Seattle $16,156
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UW-Seattle 43%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UW-Seattle 69,166
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • UW-Seattle 27,076
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UW-Seattle 39.1%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UW-Seattle 26.6%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UW-Seattle 1330
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UW-Seattle 30
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UW-Seattle 3.82
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UW-Seattle A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UW-Seattle High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • UW-Seattle 27/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UW-Seattle 1200/1453
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UW-Seattle Test-free
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UW-Seattle 20:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UW-Seattle
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UW-Seattle 80%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UW-Seattle $65,800
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UW-Seattle 76%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UW-Seattle $15,000
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UW-Seattle $155
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UW-Seattle 52%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • UW-Seattle 48%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • UW-Seattle No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • UW-Seattle 42%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • UW-Seattle 24%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • UW-Seattle 3%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • UW-Seattle 15%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UW-Seattle 1%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UW-Seattle 64%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UW-Seattle 24%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Washington Seattle Campus in Seattle, WA with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Washington Seattle Campus is larger than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (56,997 students vs. 51,044 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Washington Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, WA (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Washington Seattle Campus 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 Washington Seattle Campus 20:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

UW-Seattle vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UW-Seattle 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 Washington Seattle Campus than Wisconsin ($11,784 vs. $14,235).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 23.3% lower than at University of Washington Seattle Campus ($14,124 vs. $18,405).
  • University of Washington Seattle Campus is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $1,370 more per year; $12,973.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at UW-Seattle than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $1,106 more per year; $43,209.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Washington Seattle Campus than at University of Wisconsin Madison (43% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 9.8% larger than aid received by University of Washington Seattle Campus students ($17,741 vs. $16,156).

UW-Seattle vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UW-Seattle 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 UW-Seattle.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 120 points higher than at UW-Seattle (1330).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at UW-Seattle).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Washington Seattle Campus 1200/1453; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Washington Seattle Campus 27/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UW-Seattle - Test-free; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UW-Seattle (3.82).
  • Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than UW-Seattle (39.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.6% at UW-Seattle vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

UW-Seattle vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UW-Seattle 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 Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than University of Washington Seattle Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Wisconsin graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Washington Seattle Campus graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($15,000 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, UW-Seattle graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($155 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UW-Seattle students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 76%)

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.