Birthed in 1848 by a clause in the Wisconsin Constitution that provided for “a StateUniversity, at or near the seat of state government,” the University of Wisconsin-Madison has grown to become one of the nation’s largest and most productive institutions of higher learning. Beginning with a class of 17 on Feb. 5, 1849, the university now enrolls more than 42,000 students in 133 undergraduate majors and 150 master’s and 108 doctoral degree programs.


As one of the nation’s first land-grant universities, UW-Madison maintains a strong research emphasis in agricultural and life sciences. Award-winning research spanning the academicdisciplines, however, has earned UW-Madison a place among the world’s elite institutions ofhigher education. UW-Madison graduate and undergraduate programs consistently score high marks in national rankings.
The flagship school of the state UW System, UW-Madison has always sought to return thefruits of teaching and research to Wisconsin residents; in 1904, UW-Madison President CharlesVan Hise crystallized the university’s commitment to public service in defining “the Wisconsin Idea,” which mandates that “the beneficent influence of the university [be] available to every home in the state.” UW-Madison offers the only public schools of law, medicine and veterinary medicine in the state and is one of only two state-supported schools to offer doctoral degrees. (UW-Milwaukee is the other.)
It follows, then, that the majority of UW-Madison students hail from within the state’sborders. The university’s 23,429 Wisconsin students represent every county in the state. Morethan 143,000 of the more than 381,000 living UW-Madison alumni reside in Wisconsin.


By UW Board of Regents policy, no more than 25 percent of UW-Madison’s undergraduateenrollment may come from out of state. Despite its state focus, however, UW-Madison ranks asone of the most diverse educational communities in the nation. UW-Madison’s current enrollment features students from every state in the nation and 131 other countries. Studentsfrom minority groups now make up 13.4 percent of the population, and UW-Madison continuesto commit resources to attracting larger minority communities. The university serves students ofall ages as well: In 2010, UW-Madison enrolled 387 students under the age of 18 and 917 students over age 46.

Provost’s Diversity Statement

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs We live in a diverse society that is increasingly interconnected with the political, cultural and economic interests of people in other parts of the world. Educating graduates who are prepared to live in this global environment requires that we foster and celebrate the diversity among human beings and cultures. Students must continually extend their reach. At UW-Madison we have made significant progress in our efforts to create a campus that reflects the diversity of our society and the world beyond it. ...read more...."