Madison draws a third of its students from out of state, a higher proportion than some other leading Midwestern public universities. Why brave the cold? Reasons include top programs in an array of professional fields and several innovative living/learning programs. There’s also the pleasure of life in Madison, a combination state capital/college town in the mold of Austin, Texas. Sky-high retention rates.

For more than a century, the University of Wisconsin has been guided by the Progressive-era philosophy of the “Wisconsin Idea” that the purpose of a great state university is to seek truth and apply the resulting knowledge to the benefit of the students and society as a whole. Such a philosophy has turned Wisconsin, which dates to 1848, into one of the world’s leading universities-one where 30,000 undergraduates take advantage of high-level academics and a rich array of resources. State funding is back on the rise after years of deep budget cuts, and Wisconsin remains a place where professional and other programs are outstanding. Just bring a strong desire to learn-and a very warm coat.

Described by one Madison student as “architecturally olden with a modern touch,” the mainly brick campus is distinctive. It spreads out over 936 hilly, tree-covered acres and across an isthmus between two glacial lakes, Mendota and Monona. From atop Bascom Hill, the center of campus, you look east past the statue of Lincoln and the liberal arts buildings, down to a library mall that was the scene of many a political demonstration during the ’60s. Farther east you see rows of State Street pubs and restaurants and the bleached dome of the Wisconsin state capitol. On the other side of the hill, another part of campus, dedicated to the agricultural and health sciences, twists along Lake Mendota. But students from both sides of the hill congregate in the old student union, Memorial Union, where political arguments and backgammon games can rage all night. Outside on the union’s veranda, students can look out at the sailboats in summer or iceboats in winter.

Distribution requirements vary among the different schools and academic departments, but they are uniformly rigorous, with science and math courses required for B.A. students, and a foreign language for virtually everyone. All students must fulfill a three-part graduation requirement in quantitative reasoning, communication, and ethnic studies. Students who prefer the academic road less traveled can opt for the Integrated Liberal Studies certificate program, which allows them to fulfill several gen eds with a series of related, interdisciplinary courses, rather than taking electives at random.

Madison’s academic climate is demanding. “There are a lot of smart people studying here,” notes one student. A list of first-rate academic programs at Madison would constitute a college catalog elsewhere. There are 70 programs considered in the top 10 nationally. Some highlights include education, agriculture, communication, biological sciences, and social sciences. The most popular majors are economics, computer science, psychology, and biology. Due to overcrowding, some of the strongest fields, such as business and engineering, have more selective admissions criteria than others. Although many classes are large, 44 percent have fewer than 20 students. Professors at Madison are certainly among the nation’s best, with National Academy of Science members and Guggenheim fellows scattered liberally among the departments.

While the university’s size can be daunting, harried freshmen aren’t left to fend for themselves. The university offers a number of first-year programs designed to ease the transition into college life. A first-year seminar encourages students to examine learning strategies; connect with faculty, staff, and peers; and become familiar with campus resources. First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) consist of 20 first-year students who may live in the same residence hall or “residential neighborhood” and who also enroll in a cluster of three classes together. Each FIG cluster of courses has a central theme; the central or “synthesizing” course integrates content from the other two classes. After freshman year, many students participate in internships, and 27 percent choose to study abroad in programs all over the world, including France, Brazil, India, Israel, and Thailand. Forty-four percent conduct undergraduate research.

If there is a common characteristic among Madison undergraduates, it is assertiveness. “It’s easy to get lost in the crowd here, so you have to be fairly strong and confident,” declares one student. “No one holds your hand.” The flip side is that “anyone can fit in, you just have to find your own niche.” Fifty-six percent of undergraduates are from Wisconsin, and 10 percent are international. The school is a heartland of progressive politics, and Madison’s reputation as a haven for liberals remains intact. “Students here are called liberal because they are eager and willing to change and are continually looking for newer and better ideas,” explains one activist. Asian Americans make up 7 percent of the student body, Hispanics 6 percent, African Americans 2 percent, and multiracial students 4 percent. Academic merit scholarships averaging $5,500 are awarded each year, along with more than 350 athletic scholarships.

Twenty-six percent of undergrads, mostly freshmen, reside in university housing. Dorms are either co-ed or single sex and come equipped with laundry facilities, game rooms, and lounges. Most also have a cafeteria. The student union offers two meal plans, and there are plenty of restaurants and fast-food places nearby. Escort services for those walking and those needing a ride help keep students safe on campus. A variety of programs and groups, such as U Got This! and We’re Better Than That, are working to educate the community on preventing sexual assault and supporting survivors.

One old standby for social life that is still as popular as ever is the student union, which hosts bands, shows, and so forth and provides a great atmosphere in which to hang out. There are more film clubs than anyone can follow, and everyone has a favorite bar. Nine percent of the men and 8 percent of the women go Greek. “Frat parties are a very popular break from the bar scene,” quips one expert on both options. Madison (a.k.a. Madtown) is an excellent college town and has been the stomping ground for many fine rock ’n’ roll and blues bands on the road to fame. Volunteering is a tradition here; the university consistently tops the list for providing the Peace Corps with the most entrants of any college or university in the nation. Nature enthusiasts can lose themselves in the university’s 12,000-acre nature preserve or hit nearby ski slopes.

The students at this Big Ten school show “tons of interest” in sports, especially hockey and football, and especially when the Badgers try to rout the University of Michigan’s Wolverines. The Badgers women’s ice hockey team claimed the national title in 2019, and the school has produced its share of Big Ten champions as well. Bucky Badger apparel, emblazoned with slogans ranging from the urbane to the decidedly uncouth, is ubiquitous. However, the much-acclaimed marching band may outdo all the teams in popularity. Recreational sports are another favorite pastime, with dozens of intramurals and 46 club sports offered at varying levels of competitiveness.

One of the best and most well-rounded state schools anywhere, Madison remains a school that students sum up as “diverse, intellectual, fashionable, and moderately hedonistic.” And these are the qualities that attract bright and energetic students from everywhere. “You feel you’re accepted for who you are no matter what,” says one student. “It’s so nice to just be yourself.”

-Fiske Guide