How this school serves students from different economic backgrounds, including Pell students, first-generation pathways, and long-term mobility outcomes.
University of Wisconsin-Madison admits 45.2% of applicants, making it a selective institution. Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored between 1,380 and 1,520 on the SAT or between 29 and 33 on the ACT (interquartile range). 15.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 16.8% are first-generation college students — figures that reflect the institution's position as a selective flagship serving a comparatively narrower share of low-income and first-generation families than broad-access public universities. Transfer enrollment stands at 14.1% of the student body. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Madison #254 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students from low-income backgrounds who do enroll, outcomes are strong. Low-income graduates earn median earnings of $72,100 on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, placing this cohort in the 93.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. The six-year graduation rate is 89.5%, and Pell-eligible students complete at 70.6% within that window — a meaningful signal of institutional support for students who arrive with fewer financial resources. Freshman retention stands at 96.2%, reflecting broad student engagement across the university. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Madison #56 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern here mirrors what selective institutions with strong outcomes often show: low-income students who gain admission complete at high rates and reach earnings that compare favorably with peers nationwide, but the institution's selective admission scale limits how many students benefit from that pathway.
University of Wisconsin-Madison admits 45.2% of applicants, making it a selective institution. Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored between 1,380 and 1,520 on the SAT or between 29 and 33 on the ACT (interquartile range). 15.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 16.8% are first-generation college students — figures that reflect the institution's position as a selective flagship serving a comparatively narrower share of low-income and first-generation families than broad-access public universities. Transfer enrollment stands at 14.1% of the student body. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Madison #254 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students from low-income backgrounds who do enroll, outcomes are strong. Low-income graduates earn median earnings of $72,100 on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, placing this cohort in the 93.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. The six-year graduation rate is 89.5%, and Pell-eligible students complete at 70.6% within that window — a meaningful signal of institutional support for students who arrive with fewer financial resources. Freshman retention stands at 96.2%, reflecting broad student engagement across the university. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Madison #56 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern here mirrors what selective institutions with strong outcomes often show: low-income students who gain admission complete at high rates and reach earnings that compare favorably with peers nationwide, but the institution's selective admission scale limits how many students benefit from that pathway.
University of Wisconsin-Madison admits 45.2% of applicants, making it a selective institution. Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored between 1,380 and 1,520 on the SAT or between 29 and 33 on the ACT (interquartile range). 15.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 16.8% are first-generation college students — figures that reflect the institution's position as a selective flagship serving a comparatively narrower share of low-income and first-generation families than broad-access public universities. Transfer enrollment stands at 14.1% of the student body. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Madison #254 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students from low-income backgrounds who do enroll, outcomes are strong. Low-income graduates earn median earnings of $72,100 on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, placing this cohort in the 93.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. The six-year graduation rate is 89.5%, and Pell-eligible students complete at 70.6% within that window — a meaningful signal of institutional support for students who arrive with fewer financial resources. Freshman retention stands at 96.2%, reflecting broad student engagement across the university. Azimuth ranks University of Wisconsin-Madison #56 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The pattern here mirrors what selective institutions with strong outcomes often show: low-income students who gain admission complete at high rates and reach earnings that compare favorably with peers nationwide, but the institution's selective admission scale limits how many students benefit from that pathway.
