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University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ranked
Madison, United States
=56th in World University Rankings 2025
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About

Basic information and contact details for the University of Wisconsin-Madison

institution

Located in Madison, the capital of the State of Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) is a public, land-grant institution that was founded in 1848. It held its first class in the February of 1849.

Home to 13 colleges and schools, the university’s main campus stretches over 900 acres along the southern shore of Lake Mendota.

The city itself has plenty to offer students, including national landmarks and the colourful State Street and Capitol Square, lined with restaurants, coffee shops, music venues and boutiques. 

Madison is known as being a ‘green’ city, with plenty of opportunities for skiing, fishing, boating, and other outdoor sports. The newspaper USA Today ranked Madison fourth best cycling town in America for its network of biking paths and bike-share program.

Its student body of 40,000 collectively represents 50 states and 124 countries.

The university boasts almost 900 student organisations and its official mascot is the Bucky Badger.

A research university, UW has been home to number of pioneering achievements, such as the discovery of vitamins in the early 20th century, the cultivation of embryonic stem cells in the late 20th century and, in 2010, the discovery of a new human species.

Since its inception, over a dozen Nobel Prize awards have been awarded to faculty and alumni of UW. Other alumni include 33 Pulitzer Prize winners, the founders of the satirical news media company, The Onion, and the founder of Earth Day, the annual event that champions environmental protection.

One of the university’s longest traditions is the ‘Wisconsin Idea’ – the principle that the university should enhance people’s lives beyond the classroom. The Idea has been synonymous with Wisconsin for over 100 years and has become the primary ethos of the university’s outreach efforts across the globe.

The university’s motto is ‘Numen Lumen’, which translates as ‘God, our light’.

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Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

gender ratio
Student gender ratio
51 F : 49 M (2)
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International student percentage
14% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
10.6 (1)
student
Student total
43549 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2025, (2) World University Rankings 2018

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Subjects Taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

See below for a range of subjects taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Life Sciences=44th

  • Agriculture and Forestry
  • Sport Science
  • Veterinary Science
  • Biological Sciences

Law151–175th

  • Law

Education17th

  • Education

Arts and Humanities85th

  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Archaeology
  • Art, Performing Art and Design
  • Architecture

Business and Economics67th

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Business and Management
  • Accounting and Finance

Clinical and Health101–125th

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Other Health

Computer Science68th

  • Computer Science

Engineering=73rd

  • General Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Social Sciences=25th

  • Sociology
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Geography
  • Communication and Media Studies

Psychology43rd

  • Psychology

Physical Sciences50th

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Mathematics and Statistics