Location
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Madison, WI
- University of California-San Diego
- La Jolla, CA
University of Wisconsin-Madison vs University of California-San Diego
Madison, WI · La Jolla, CA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair WI:CA
PUBLIC-PAIR · CROSS-STATE · ACCEPT-GAP · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PUBLIC-PAIR Public pair
- CROSS-STATE WI × CA
- ACCEPT-GAP Admission gap
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-SPLIT Debt split
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-RACE · wide · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both grew, one campus expanded much faster
ENROLL-RACE · wide · 2013–2023
Undergraduate headcount rose at both University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of California-San Diego across 2013–2023, with a wide pace gap, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides. Growth plus a shared selectivity squeeze is the board's distinctive shape.
- University of California-San Diego: enrollment grew +42.0% over 2013–2023; fitted +1,028 students/yr fitted, r² 0.97.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: enrollment grew +20.9% over 2013–2023; fitted +651 students/yr fitted, r² 0.85.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: acceptance rate tightened -36.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.42).
- University of California-San Diego: acceptance rate tightened -34.6% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.46).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Undergraduate Enrollment
Acceptance Rate
In-State Tuition
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- $11,603
Avg Net Price
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- $17,354
Median Debt at Graduation
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- $20,484
Out-of-State Tuition
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- $42,103
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- $73,792
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- $61,275
150%-Time Completion
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Madison, WI | La Jolla, CA |
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 36,902 | 34,948 |
| Acceptance Rate | 45.2% | 26.7% |
| In-State Tuition | $11,603 | $16,758 |
| Avg Net Price | $17,354 | $12,470 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $20,484 | $15,500 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $42,103 | $50,958 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $73,792 | $84,943 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $61,275 | $65,669 |
| 150%-Time Completion | 89.4% | 86.8% |
Largest gaps: University of Wisconsin-Madison vs University of California-San Diego
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE University of California-San Diego leads on acceptance rate (26.7% vs 45.2% at University of Wisconsin-Madison)
- IN-STATE-TUITION University of Wisconsin-Madison leads on in-state tuition ($11,603 vs $16,758 at University of California-San Diego)
- AVG-NET-PRICE University of California-San Diego leads on avg net price ($12,470 vs $17,354 at University of Wisconsin-Madison)
University of Wisconsin-Madison profile · University of California-San Diego profile · Compare other colleges
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of California-San Diego?▼
University of California-San Diego leads on acceptance rate at 26.7% versus 45.2% at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On in-state tuition, who leads between University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of California-San Diego?▼
University of Wisconsin-Madison leads on in-state tuition at $11,603 versus $16,758 at University of California-San Diego. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of California-San Diego?▼
University of California-San Diego leads on avg net price at $12,470 versus $17,354 at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025