Admissions · United States
University of Wisconsin–Madison Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics and TOEFL & IELTS Requirements
UW–Madison admitted 40.8% of first-year applicants for fall 2025: 30,167 of 73,912, according to its Common Data Set.
University of Wisconsin–Madison TOEFL and IELTS requirements at a glance
| Applying for | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (first-year) | TOEFL iBTMinimum 4.5 for test dates on or after 21 January 2026; 80 on the 0–120 scale for test dates on or before 20 January 2026. No section minimums stated. | IELTS AcademicMinimum 6.5 (in-person or online IELTS Academic); no section minimums stated |
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UW–Madison publishes its admissions figures in the Common Data Set, released by its office of Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research (DAPIR); the newest edition covers fall 2025. This page shows the overall acceptance rate for the last three entering classes, the Wisconsin-resident, out-of-state and international figures where UW–Madison has published them, the wait-list and transfer numbers, and the TOEFL and IELTS scores it accepts.
Figures read from official sources on · LingoLeap Admissions Research
University of Wisconsin–Madison acceptance rate by year
UW–Madison acceptance rate by applicant group
| Group | Cycle | Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin residents | Fall 2025 entering class | 56.4% | 5,672 admitted of 10,058 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2025 entering class | 40.3% | 19,948 admitted of 49,463 source |
| International | Fall 2025 entering class | 31.6% | 4,547 admitted of 14,391; 490 enrolled source |
| Wisconsin residents | Fall 2023 entering class | 60.7% | 5,880 admitted of 9,692 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2023 entering class | 42.7% | 17,705 admitted of 41,490 source |
| International | Fall 2023 entering class | 31.9% | 3,942 admitted of 12,355; 647 enrolled source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2025 entering class | 25.2% | 1,088 admitted of 4,317 who accepted a place; 6,476 were offered one source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2024 entering class | 6.4% | 493 admitted of 7,644 who accepted a place; 12,584 were offered one source |
| Wait list (admitted of those who accepted a place) | Fall 2023 entering class | 61.4% | 4,436 admitted of 7,221 who accepted a place; 13,364 were offered one source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2025 entering class | 28.2% | 8,495 enrolled of 30,167 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2024 entering class | 28.6% | 8,514 enrolled of 29,784 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2023 entering class | 28.9% | 7,966 enrolled of 27,527 admitted source |
| Transfer | Fall 2025 | 56.7% | 2,652 admitted of 4,677; 1,322 enrolled source |
| Transfer | Fall 2024 | 55.5% | 2,507 admitted of 4,516; 1,373 enrolled source |
| Transfer | Fall 2023 | 47.5% | 2,112 admitted of 4,442; 1,129 enrolled source |
What the numbers mean
UW–Madison's acceptance rate was 40.8% for fall 2025 (30,167 of 73,912), 45.2% for fall 2024 (29,784 of 65,933) and 43.3% for fall 2023 (27,527 of 63,537). Applications rose by about 8,000 between fall 2024 and fall 2025 while admits rose by fewer than 400, which is why the rate fell. The class that enrolled grew slightly, to 8,495.
Residency matters. For fall 2025 the admit rate was 56.4% for Wisconsin residents (5,672 of 10,058), 40.3% for out-of-state US applicants (19,948 of 49,463) and 31.6% for international applicants (4,547 of 14,391). The fall 2023 figures were similar: 60.7%, 42.7% and 31.9%. The 2024-25 Common Data Set leaves the residency table blank, so there is no residency split for fall 2024.
UW–Madison has no early decision plan. It has a non-binding, non-restrictive early action deadline of 1 November with decisions by 31 January, but does not report how many early action applicants it admits, so no early-round rate is published. The wait list varies sharply from year to year: 1,088 students were admitted from it for fall 2025, against 493 for fall 2024 and 4,436 for fall 2023.
For first-year applicants educated in non-English-speaking countries, UW–Madison's minimum accepted TOEFL iBT score is 80 for test dates on or before 20 January 2026 and 4.5 for test dates from 21 January 2026; the minimum IELTS score is 6.5 and the minimum Duolingo English Test score is 115. It does not state section minimums, does not superscore any English test, and does not accept TOEFL MyBest scores.
University of Wisconsin–Madison TOEFL and IELTS requirements
Minimums for international applicants from the university's own pages. Since 21 January 2026 TOEFL iBT reports a 1–6 band score; the notes give the older 0–120 equivalent where the university states one. Convert TOEFL and IELTS scores.
Undergraduate (first-year)
TOEFL iBT: Minimum 4.5 for test dates on or after 21 January 2026; 80 on the 0–120 scale for test dates on or before 20 January 2026. No section minimums stated.
IELTS Academic: Minimum 6.5 (in-person or online IELTS Academic); no section minimums stated
Duolingo English Test: minimum 115, sent with subscores. Required of first-year applicants educated in non-English-speaking countries unless English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school; IB, AP, SAT, ACT, Cambridge and PTE results cannot waive it. No superscoring and no TOEFL MyBest; scores must be no more than two years old. TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition accepted; TOEFL ITP Plus for China not accepted.
UW–Madison Admissions: International applicants, English Language Proficiency Exams · checked 26 October 2026
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FAQ
What is UW–Madison's acceptance rate?
UW–Madison admitted 30,167 of 73,912 first-year applicants for fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 40.8%, according to its Common Data Set. The rate was 45.2% for fall 2024 and 43.3% for fall 2023.
What is UW–Madison's out-of-state acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, UW–Madison admitted 19,948 of 49,463 out-of-state US applicants (40.3%), against 56.4% for Wisconsin residents (5,672 of 10,058). For fall 2023 the out-of-state rate was 42.7%. The 2024-25 Common Data Set does not give a residency split.
What is UW–Madison's international acceptance rate?
UW–Madison admitted 4,547 of 14,391 international first-year applicants for fall 2025 (31.6%), and 3,942 of 12,355 for fall 2023 (31.9%). No international figure is published for fall 2024.
What is UW–Madison's transfer acceptance rate?
UW–Madison admitted 2,652 of 4,677 transfer applicants for fall 2025 (56.7%), 2,507 of 4,516 for fall 2024 (55.5%) and 2,112 of 4,442 for fall 2023 (47.5%).
Does UW–Madison have early decision?
No. UW–Madison's Common Data Set answers No to early decision. It has a non-binding early action deadline of 1 November with decisions by 31 January, but does not report early action applicant or admit counts.
What TOEFL score does UW–Madison require?
UW–Madison's minimum accepted TOEFL iBT score is 4.5 for tests taken on or after 21 January 2026, and 80 for tests taken on or before 20 January 2026. No section minimums are stated. It accepts the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition but not TOEFL ITP Plus for China, and does not accept MyBest scores.
What IELTS score does UW–Madison require?
UW–Madison's minimum accepted IELTS score is 6.5. It accepts both the in-person and online IELTS Academic test and does not state section minimums.