University of Wisconsin-Madison Net Price Calculator and Real Cost Breakdown

U.S. Department of Education data Net price 2022-23 Charges 2023-24 Verified 2026-08-13 Methodology

The published cost of attendance at University of Wisconsin-Madison is about $42,405 for 2023-24 ($11,205 tuition and fees plus housing and food, books and supplies, and other on-campus expenses), and the average student paid $14,216 after grants and scholarships (2022-23 federal data). Your actual price depends mostly on family income. Use the estimator below.

Source: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, net price 2022-23, published charges 2023-24. Retrieved 2026-08-13.

Estimate your net price

Select your household income to see the average net price students in your bracket actually paid at University of Wisconsin-Madison (2022-23 federal data).

Average net price by household income

Household incomeAverage net price (2022-23)
$0 to $30,000$4,458
$30,001 to $48,000$5,268
$48,001 to $75,000$9,613
$75,001 to $110,000$21,123
$110,001 and up$26,427

Average net price for full-time first-time undergraduates awarded grant or scholarship aid. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2022-23. Retrieved 2026-08-13.

Where the aid comes from

Aid received by full-time first-time undergraduates at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022-23, by source:

  • 17 percent received a federal Pell Grant, averaging $5,295.
  • 32 percent received institutional grants or scholarships from the school itself, averaging $12,811.
  • 16 percent received state or local government grants, averaging $2,698.
  • 24 percent took out federal student loans, averaging $5,182. Loans must be repaid and do not reduce the net price.

Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2022-23, full-time first-time undergraduates. Retrieved 2026-08-13. These figures describe a past cohort and are not an offer or estimate of aid.

Published cost vs what students actually pay

Published cost of attendance
$42,405
Average net price
$14,216

49 percent of full-time first-time undergraduates received grant or scholarship aid (2022-23 IPEDS).

That average net price is $5,327 below the Wisconsin average of $19,543 across 41 reporting 4-year institutions (IPEDS SFA 2022-23, retrieved 2026-08-13).

Is the net price rising or falling?

$13,484 2020-21
$13,376 2021-22
$14,216 2022-23

The average net price at University of Wisconsin-Madison rose $732 over the two years ending 2022-23.

Average net price by year, 2020-21 through 2022-23, from the IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey. Retrieved 2026-08-13.

Size, retention, debt, earnings, and completion

  • 36,902 degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled. Source: College Scorecard, most recent fall. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  • 96 percent of full-time first-time students returned for a second year. Source: College Scorecard, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  • 90 percent of students complete within 150 percent of normal time. Source: College Scorecard. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  • $20,484 median federal loan debt at graduation. Source: College Scorecard, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  • $61,275 median earnings of former students 6 years after entry. Source: College Scorecard median earnings, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  • $73,792 median earnings of former students 10 years after entry. Source: College Scorecard median earnings, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.

Earnings, debt, retention, and completion describe past federal aid cohorts as reported by the College Scorecard. They are not a promise of any individual outcome.

Common questions about University of Wisconsin-Madison costs

What is the real cost of University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Published tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin-Madison are $11,205 for 2023-24. The average net price, the full cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid, was $14,216 (2022-23 IPEDS Student Financial Aid data, retrieved 2026-08-13). Your price depends mostly on household income.

How much aid do students at University of Wisconsin-Madison get?

49 percent of full-time first-time undergraduates at University of Wisconsin-Madison received grant or scholarship aid in 2022-23 (IPEDS, retrieved 2026-08-13). The income bracket table on this page shows the average net price after that aid.

Do students at University of Wisconsin-Madison get Pell Grants?

17 percent of full-time first-time undergraduates at University of Wisconsin-Madison received a federal Pell Grant in 2022-23, averaging $5,295 (IPEDS Student Financial Aid data, retrieved 2026-08-13). Pell eligibility is determined by your FAFSA, not by the school.

Is University of Wisconsin-Madison worth the cost?

Federal data reports outcomes without judging value. Median federal loan debt at graduation is $20,484. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $73,792 (College Scorecard). Compare those figures with the net price for your income bracket to judge fit for your situation.

The school's official calculator

For a personalized federal estimate including your assets and family details, use University of Wisconsin-Madison's official net price calculator.

CollegeNPC.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Wisconsin-Madison. Data is compiled from U.S. Department of Education public datasets. For the school's official net price calculator, visit the school's site.