Madison Reporter

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has enrolled 8,516 freshmen for the fall semester, drawn from a record 65,933 applicants. This marks the second-largest freshman class in the university's history. Additionally, 1,375 new transfer students have joined the campus this fall.

“We are thrilled that these exceptional students have chosen UW–Madison as their higher-education home,” said Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin. “In return, we commit to providing them with what has been this university’s hallmark for 175 years — a world-class education that prepares students to take on society’s toughest challenges and become transformative leaders in their professions and their communities.”

Mnookin also emphasized the university's efforts to support students from Wisconsin by removing financial barriers: “We are also proud to welcome so many students from Wisconsin and to be able to remove financial barriers for those who may not otherwise be able to attend UW–Madison.”

More than 1,200 freshmen and new transfer students from Wisconsin will have their full tuition covered by one of the university’s financial aid initiatives.

The university has expanded its outreach and recruiting efforts through programs like the College for Rural Wisconsin and a dedicated regional and international recruiting team. It also launched the Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise Program.

“Through our increased recruiting efforts and our holistic application review process, we will continue to find remarkable Badgers who are poised to find success at UW–Madison and contribute to our vibrant community,” said Derek Kindle, vice provost for enrollment management.

Allison Wagner, founding executive director of All-In Milwaukee, praised UW–Madison's partnership in supporting diverse students from low-income neighborhoods in Milwaukee: “UW–Madison works with us to recruit diverse students and then helps build a true community for them on campus.”

This year’s freshman class is the first since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race could no longer be considered in college admissions decisions. As a result, there was a decline in the percentage of underrepresented students of color.

“Though declines are disappointing, I want to be clear that our commitment to these students and their communities remains steadfast,” Mnookin stated.

The Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise Program offers financial support covering all costs for pursuing an undergraduate degree for Wisconsin residents who are enrolled members of federally recognized Wisconsin Indian tribes.

“When I first heard about it, I remember thinking it was so nice that it was happening because a lot of Native kids can’t afford to go to college,” said Juno O’Connor, a freshman benefiting from this program.

Other initiatives include Bucky’s Tuition Promise and Bucky’s Pell Pathway aimed at making education more affordable for Wisconsin residents. This fall, over 1,200 freshmen and new transfer students benefit from these programs.

Hayden Leonard, a recipient of Bucky’s Pell Pathway, shared his experience: “I couldn’t believe it... It was the deciding factor. It’s amazing not to have to worry about finances.”

UW–Madison continues its commitment by enrolling more than 3,600 new Wisconsin resident freshmen annually. This year saw an enrollment figure of 3,825 new resident freshmen despite declining numbers of high school graduates in the state.

By numbers:

- Total enrollment reached a record 52,126.

- Freshman applicants were up by 3.8% compared to last year.

- The percentage of Black freshmen dropped slightly while white enrollment increased.

- The number of new transfer students rose significantly by 21.8%.

Overall statistics indicate significant participation in various financial aid programs designed to support lower-income students' access to higher education at UW–Madison.