University of Wisconsin-Madison

Overview

The University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) is the first and biggest public university in Wisconsin. Classified as an R1 University, the institution’s flagship campus is known for its high research activity and is a founding member of the Association of American Universities. It also contributes heavily to its state’s economy, given its size and scale.

UW-Madison’s main campus spans 933 acres, covering four historic structures, and features around 20 colleges and schools. South of which is the 1,200-acre University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, which serves as a research facility for ecological restoration. The school offers over 130 undergraduate programs, more than 140 master’s programs, and around 120 doctorate degrees. Among these, the most popular ones are computer science, economics, biological sciences, finance, and psychology.

In addition, the university has around 100 research facilities accounting for a wide range of fields, including agriculture, engineering, education, the arts, biological science, and medical science. A prominent figure in stem cell research, UW-Madison is also credited for performing the first successful attempt at isolating stem cells, thanks to Professor James Thompson.

With over 40 libraries within its bounds, UW-Madison is home to more than 8 million volumes of research on human inquiry, over 100,000 serials, and more than 6 million microform titles. Its Memorial Library is the biggest in Wisconsin and is a research touchpoint for the university’s social science programs.

Founded in 1848, when Wisconsin was formally declared a US state, UW-Madison held its first class of 17 students, even before its official campus was constructed in 1849. Not long after, a 50-acre plot of land was selected as the site of the university’s campus and its first building, North Hall, was completed in 1851. In 1901, the school ascribed to the Wisconsin Idea, as it dedicated its research and teaching efforts to enrich Wisconsin and solve the state’s issues.

As of 2020, UW-Madison is home to well over 40,000 students and more than 21,000 faculty members and administrative personnel. Notably, the school is credited with the discovery of vitamins and the cultivation of stem cells. Meanwhile, the satirical publication The Onion was conceived by UW-Madison students. The university is associated with over 40 Pulitzer Prizes and more than 25 Nobel laureates and has produced 14 CEOs of Fortune 500 firms as of November 2018.

Its notable alumni include Charles Lindbergh (aviator), Laurel Clark (astronaut), Dick Cheney (U.S. vice president), Greta Van Susteren (news anchor), Joan Cusack (actress), and Elmer McCollum (biochemist who discovered Vitamins A, B, and D).

UW-Madison still maintains the Wisconsin Idea as its guiding principle but has expanded its coverage to take on the country’s and the world’s real-life problems and provide sound solutions. Lastly, the university has a highly competitive athletics program, which has produced over 25 national championships while its alumni have collectively taken home around 50 Olympic medals.