University of Wisconsin–Madison is a top public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin in the Madison metropolitan area. It is a large university with approximately 33,500 undergraduate students. Admissions are competitive because Wisconsin–Madison's acceptance rate is around 43%. Available majors are Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Business, and Psychology. The graduation rate after six years is 88%, and Wisconsin–Madison alumni have a median starting salary of around INR 63,50,000 (ten years post-graduation, equivalent to $76,700 median earnings).
Pennsylvania State University (University Park) is an elite public research university in University Park, Pennsylvania in the State College area. It is an extremely large university with around 40,500 undergraduate students. Admissions are relatively selective as Penn State's acceptance rate is approximately 54%. Some of the majors are Business, Engineering, Social Sciences, Biology, and Communications. The six-year graduation rate is 87%, and the graduates from Penn State get a median starting salary of around INR 64,30,000 (ten years post-graduation, converted from $77,700 median earnings).
| University of Wisconsin | Pennsylvania State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.8 Out of 10 | 5.9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 53 Times Higher Education 2026 # 110 QS World University 2026 # 30 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 82 QS World University 2026 # 108 Times Higher Education 2026 # 57 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 27 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 119 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 28 for Law by US News 2025 | # 31 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 118 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -166 PG Programs -101 Doctorate Programs -69 | UG Programs -163 PG Programs -116 |
| Acceptance Rate | 45.0 % | 54.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 TOEFL-80 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1160 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 38634 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 25540 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 16414 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 35984 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 38198 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 26664 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate Employability Rankings- #55 (QS 2020); Average salary- 72,492 USD; Top recruiters: UW- Madison, Target Corporation, Oracle, Mercer, Kohl's, Milliman, Epic, UW Health, 3M Company; Highest paid degrees: Doctorate (235,000 USD), PhD (168,000 USD), Masters in Finance (130,000 USD), Masters in Science (120,000 USD), Bachelor of Science (94,000 USD), Bachelor of Arts (92,000 USD), BS Nuclear Engineering (72,083 USD) | PhD: $150,0000- $158,000 |
| application requirements | Academic transcripts, Resume, 2-3 LORs, SOPs/ Essays, Standardized test scores (ACT, GMAT, GRE), Proof of English proficiency, Additional documents (Design portfolio, research-based writing samples, etc.) | Submit Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) along with application, SAT/ACT scores are also accepted as language proficiency proof. You may have to fulfill additional requriements as per the program. |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Wisconsin School of Business | Smeal College of Business |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.7/10 Read 21 reviews | 7.5/10 Read 18 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 40 for Business by US News 2025 # 54 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 201 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 68 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 92 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 125/160IELTS - 7/9PTE - 73/90TOEFL - 92/120 | GMAT - 660/800IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Sep 25, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Nov 4, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Jan 13, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 3, 2026 (Round 4 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 9, 2026 (Round 5 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Jun 4, 2026 (Round 6 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Jun 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Wisconsin | Pennsylvania State University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1848 | 1855 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 15:1 |
| Male:Female | 42% Male, 58% Female | 65% Male, 35% Female |
| Location Facts | over 900 acres campus in Madison; lies along the southern shore of Lake Mendota. | It has 24 campuses located throughout the state allowing students to explore the city while learning. University Park area is situated in located in State College and College township is located in Center Country. |
| Library | 12th largest research library collection in North America; 40 libraries; 8.3 million volumes; 101,000 serial titles, 6.4 million microform items, and over 8.2 million items; Memorial Library (1st library at UW) holds 3 million volumes on 78.5 miles of shelving; over1.2 million Microform items. | Titles held: 7,240,616 |
| Campus Life | Contains a hospital, botanical gardens, an on-campus dairy farm; music hall; Camp Randall Stadium; 23 Big Ten varsity teams; nearly 900 student organizations; WSUM 91.7 FM (University Radio); Geology Museum; Chazen Museum of Art; The Daily Cardinal and The Badger Herald (2 daily university newspaper); Memorial Union Terrace (hangout space for students). | Engage in varsity athletics, 31 intercollegiate athletic teams, intramural clubs, Center for Spiritual and ethical development, LGBTQ resource center. |
| Hostel | #Housing & Meals - $16414 | #On campus - $11280 #Off campus (not with family) - $11280 #Off campus (with family) - $4104 |
| Famous Alumni | Living alumni: 451,142; 41 Pulitzer Prize winners; Dick Cheney (Businessman, Politician and 46th Vice President of USA); Laurel Clark (Medical doctor and NASA astronaut); Greta Van Susteren (Lawyer, commentator, and TV news anchor); Anders Holm (Writer, actor, producer, and comedian); Thomas J. Falk (CEO of Kimberly-Clark), Carol Bartz (CEO of Yahoo!), Keith Nosbusch (CEO of Rockwell Automation). | Saquon Barkley (American Footballer), Adam Huber (Actor), Jerry Sandusky (football coach- America), Dan Bongino (American commentator), Safaa Al- Hashim (politician), Bo Nickal (Freestyle Wrestler). Alumni are famously called Nittany Lions. |
| City Life | Madison- Capital city of Wisconsin; home to historical sites, festivals and a fireworks display; growing technology economy; Famous attractions- Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin East, Wisconsin State Capitol, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Monona Terrace, Henry Vilas Zoo; Unemployment rate- 2.8% (Feb 2020). | State College, Pennsylvania is the largest borough area. Downtown Improvement District and University Park are two major sections in State College. The neighborhood has Orchard Parks, West End, College Heights, South State College, and more. Penn State University is the largest employer followed by Mount Nittany Medical Center. You can enjoy art fests, dance night marathons, and more. |
| Weather |
University of Wisconsin–Madison vs Pennsylvania State University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
University of Wisconsin–Madison and Pennsylvania State University are both internationally ranked public research universities in the United States, and Wisconsin–Madison always slightly higher. University of Wisconsin ranks #110 in QS and 56th in Times Higher Education whereas Pennsylvania State University? ranks #82 in QS and 100th in Times Higher Education. By subject, Wisconsin–Madison has significant strengths in Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences, whereas Penn State is particularly good in Engineering, Business, and Agriculture. Both institutions have good research programs, with Wisconsin–Madison having a better global reputation.
General Information
The University of Wisconsin–Madison, established in 1848, is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System and has over 49,000 enrolled students. It is famous for its lakeside campus, traditions such as the Memorial Union Terrace, and a well-balanced mix of academics and extracurricular activities. Pennsylvania State University, established in 1855, is a land-grant institution with headquarters at University Park and a student enrollment of over 88,000 across its campuses, with approximately 47,000 at the university campus. Penn State is famously recognized for its extensive alumni network, Big Ten sports, and close industry connections.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Admissions at each campus are fairly selective for large public flagships. The University of Wisconsin–Madison generally accepts about 43% of applicants, whereas Penn State's flagship campus at University Park has a slightly higher acceptance rate near 54%. Wisconsin–Madison places heavy emphasis on academic quality and standardized test scores, whereas Penn State seeks to balance students with a more holistic process across its various campuses.
Research Impact & Facilities
Wisconsin–Madison is an R1 research university and has notable strengths in biotechnology, agriculture, chemistry, and public policy. It features comprehensive research institutes and a vast library system. Penn State is an R1 powerhouse as well, with notable strengths in engineering, earth sciences, energy, and cybersecurity research. It boasts one of the largest research budgets among public universities in the United States and has strong ties to government and private industry.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both universities, being public institutions, charge tuition differently for in-state and out-of-state students. Wisconsin–Madison charges its residents lower tuition while Penn State does the same for Pennsylvania residents. Both charge high out-of-state tuition, which is similar to other flagship universities. Both offer financial aid, with aid being more need-based and limited than that of elite privates. Penn State boasts one of the biggest alumni groups, which from time to time assists in scholarships and career opportunities, while Wisconsin–Madison enjoys state-funded programs and robust aid packages for locals.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Both universities enjoy strong career prospects, with huge alumni networks throughout the U.S. and globally. Wisconsin–Madison graduates are well-represented in government, sciences, engineering, and medicine, whereas Penn State alumni are particularly strongly represented in business, engineering, and communications. Penn State's alumni network has been widely recognized as among the largest and most active in the nation, which is advantageous for students moving into highly competitive fields. Wisconsin–Madison's international reputation adds luster to international opportunities, especially in research, policy, and cutting-edge sciences.
