About the University of Wisconsin-Madison

The University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) is an exhilarating campus with almost 48,000 students from all 50 U.S. states and around 6,000 international students from over 130 countries. UW-Madison ranks among the top 25 U.S. universities with the largest number of international students. This geographic and cultural diversity enriches our campus and advances the Wisconsin Idea.

Faculty and staff strive to connect international students with unparalleled academic, research, work, and social opportunities available at UW-Madison.

Academic Excellence

Academic excellence is at the heart of UW-Madison’s mission–that’s why the university is recognized worldwide for its commitment to academics and out-of-classroom learning. UW-Madison is home to a number of important scientific firsts including our work in the area of stem cells, bone marrow transplants, wildlife management, and more.

Rankings

UW-Madison is consistently ranked among the best public institutions in the world. Recent rankings can be found on the University Ranking page and include:

1st among public universities in the U.S. by Washington Monthly National University Rankings, 2024
6th in U.S. research expenditures from the National Science Foundation’s HERD survey, 2024
13th in U.S. public institutions and 39th overall nationwide from U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 ranking
16th in U.S. public institutions in Forbes Magazine top public college rankings
20th in the country and 28th in the world and  according to the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) 2024
22nd in the country and 38th for World Reputation Rankings according to the Times Higher Education 2025
23rd in the country and 36st in the world and  according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2024

Student Engagement

UW-Madison has one of the most engaged and active student populations around, so there is no better place to experience a true American college campus. While at UW-Madison you will experience the rich campus traditions that connect current and former Badgers all over the world.

Between our hundreds of student organizations, volunteering opportunities, Badger sporting events, and more, our campus community strives to make you feel connected. Read about the countless ways our students get involved at UW-Madison on our Student Life page.

You will see why they call Madison the top college sports town in America. Game day on our campus is something to experience even if you are not (yet) a sports fan.

When it is time for you to return home you will leave our campus as part of the worldwide network of Wisconsin Alumni, with active international alumni chapters in many countries.