Academic Life at University of Wisconsin-Madison

All About Academics

Academics are the heart of the college experience. This overview pulls together the essentials of academic life at University of Wisconsin-Madison: its faculty, its majors and fields of study, and its online learning options.

Jump to any section below, or follow a link to dig deeper into a specific part of academic life at University of Wisconsin-Madison:

• Faculty Resources
• Most Popular Majors
• Additional Questions to Ask
• Continue Your Research

Faculty and Teaching

With 18 students per faculty member, University of Wisconsin-Madison is about average, as the nationwide rate is 15 to 1. University of Wisconsin-Madison employs 84% of its instructors full time, above the national average of 47%.

For the full breakdown — tenure status, part-time and adjunct share, and how the faculty compares with the national average — see the faculty composition report.

Majors and Fields of Study

Students at University of Wisconsin-Madison can choose from 146 majors with reported graduates spanning 28 broad fields of study.

The degree levels available at University of Wisconsin-Madison are shown below:

The most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison, measured by graduates, are listed below.

For the complete list of majors, concentrations and graduation numbers, see the academic majors page.

Questions Worth Asking

Before you decide, here are a few more questions to consider about academics at University of Wisconsin-Madison:

• Looking for flexibility? University of Wisconsin-Madison may offer online or summer classes that can help you finish your degree — 10,378 undergraduates take at least some classes online. See distance learning options.
• Thinking about graduate school? Consider how many students continue their studies and how well the school retains and graduates its students (96% of full-time freshmen return for a second year). Explore graduation rates.
• Will a degree land you a job? Ask how many graduates were employed full time a year after finishing.

Continue Your Research at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Follow the links below for a deeper look at a specific part of academic life:

• Majors & Degree Programs at University of Wisconsin-Madison — majors, concentrations and completions in detail
• Faculty Composition at University of Wisconsin-Madison — how the teaching staff is structured
• Graduation and Retention at University of Wisconsin-Madison — graduation outcomes and retention detail
• Online Learning at University of Wisconsin-Madison — distance-learning enrollment detail
• Accreditation at University of Wisconsin-Madison — regional and program accreditation status