University of Wisconsin–Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison was founded in 1848, the same year Wisconsin achieved statehood, making it one of the nation's earliest public universities and the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. Established as a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act of 1862, it emphasized practical education in agriculture, engineering, and the sciences alongside the liberal arts, guided by the Wisconsin Idea that university knowledge should benefit the people of the state and improve lives beyond campus boundaries. Over the 20th and 21st centuries, UW–Madison grew into a major research powerhouse, contributing breakthroughs in fields like vitamin discovery, antibiotics, and environmental science, while expanding access through initiatives like Bucky’s Pell Pathway and the Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise.

The main campus spans 939 acres in Madison, Wisconsin's vibrant capital city, situated on an isthmus between beautiful Lakes Mendota and Monona, offering stunning waterfront views, extensive bike paths, and four distinct seasons. It features a mix of historic red-brick buildings like Bascom Hall and Science Hall, iconic landmarks such as the Memorial Union Terrace overlooking the lake, the State Street pedestrian mall connecting campus to downtown, and modern facilities including the new Morgridge Hall for computer and data sciences. The campus includes world-class research centers, the Arboretum as a 1200-acre restored prairie and forest, athletic venues like Camp Randall Stadium, and easy access to urban amenities, parks, and cultural sites.

UW–Madison is governed by the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents, with day-to-day leadership provided by the Chancellor, currently Jennifer L. Mnookin since 2022, who serves as the chief executive. The Provost oversees academic affairs, supported by deans of 13 schools and colleges. As a public land-grant university, it balances state funding with significant philanthropy and research grants, operating on an annual budget of approximately 4.95 billion dollars for 2024–25 and an endowment of around 5.5 billion dollars, funding generous financial aid, infrastructure, and the RISE Initiative for hiring in key areas like AI, health, and sustainability.

Organized into 13 schools and colleges including Letters & Science, Engineering, Business, Medicine and Public Health, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Education, and Law, UW–Madison offers over 300 undergraduate majors and extensive graduate and professional programs with a strong emphasis on research and interdisciplinary study. It ranks among the top public universities globally, second among U.S. public universities in TIME's 2026 World's Top Universities, twelfth public in U.S. News 2026, and fifth nationally in research expenditures, excelling in agriculture, biological sciences, computer science, education, engineering, social sciences, and health fields. Affiliated with 20 Nobel Prize winners and boasting one of the largest research budgets in the U.S. over 1.5 billion dollars annually, it drives innovation through facilities like the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and strong industry partnerships.

UW–Madison enrolls about 51800 students around 37000 undergraduates and 15000 graduate and professional as of fall 2025, creating a large, diverse, spirited community with students from all 72 Wisconsin counties, every U.S. state, and over 100 countries. Life centers on Badger pride cheering at Camp Randall for football, tailgating, and the iconic Jump Around tradition alongside over 1000 student organizations, Greek life, club sports, performing arts, and outdoor activities like sailing on Lake Mendota or hiking nearby trails. The culture is collaborative and activist-oriented, with strong support for mental health, career services, and inclusivity, plus vibrant social scenes on State Street and in residence halls, blending rigorous academics with a fun, well-rounded work hard, play hard ethos in one of America's best college towns.