Is University of Wisconsin-Madison test optional?

As of 2024-2025, University of Wisconsin-Madison requires standardized test scores for admission.

What is a good SAT score for University of Wisconsin-Madison?

A score at or above 1500 (75th percentile) puts you in a strong academic position at University of Wisconsin-Madison. The middle 50% range is 1300–1500, meaning 50% of admitted students scored within this range.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Q: What SAT score do you need to get into University of Wisconsin-Madison?

University of Wisconsin-Madison's middle 50% SAT range is 1300–1500. There is no official minimum, but applicants with scores significantly below 1300 face a more difficult path given the 44.5% acceptance rate.

Madison, WI · Public University · 33,000 undergraduates

Key Facts

UW-Madison's middle 50% SAT range is 1300–1500 — 25% of admitted students scored above 1500, 25% scored below 1300
UW-Madison is moderately selective — overall acceptance rate is 44.5%
UW-Madison currently requires standardized test scores for admission
A score within or above the middle 50% range removes academic metrics as an obstacle; essays, recommendations, and context remain the deciding factors
Students using Auriga's adaptive SAT prep improve an average of 150+ points toward their goal score

UW-Madison SAT Score Requirements — Class of 2030

Middle 50% SAT Range

1300–1500

44.5% acceptance rate

Typical Score Target

1400

Midpoint of middle 50%

Middle 50% ACT Range

28–33

ACT accepted equally

Test Policy

Test Required

2024-2025

What the SAT Range Actually Means

The middle 50% range (1300–1500) means that 25% of admitted students scored below 1300 and 25% scored above 1500. This is not a minimum cutoff — it's a distribution. Students are admitted with scores across a wide range.

A score within the middle 50% means you are academically competitive. Whether you're admitted depends on the strength of your complete application — essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, and how you've used your opportunities.

A score above 1500 (the 75th percentile) removes academic metrics as an obstacle and lets your application compete on the strength of everything else. It does not guarantee admission at an institution as selective as UW-Madison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What SAT score do you need to get into UW-Madison?

UW-Madison's middle 50% SAT range is 1300–1500. There is no official minimum, but applicants with scores significantly below 1300 face a more difficult path at an institution with a 44.5% acceptance rate.

Is UW-Madison test optional?

As of 2024-2025, UW-Madison requires standardized test scores for admission.

What is the SAT score for the average admitted student at UW-Madison?

The midpoint of UW-Madison's middle 50% range is approximately 1400. However, roughly half of admitted students score above this, and half below — there is no single "average" that predicts admission.

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