The Universities of Wisconsin system comprises 13 public universities serving over 164,600 students across all 72 counties in the state. The system awards more than 37,000 degrees annually from a portfolio of nearly 1,500 programs, spanning undergraduate and graduate offerings in higher education, STEM, healthcare, applied sciences, and entrepreneurship.
Research activity forms a substantial part of the system's work, with over $2 billion in annual sponsored research funding supporting faculty and student investigations. This research infrastructure supports both academic advancement and practical applications across disciplines.
The universities operate according to the Wisconsin Idea - the principle that education should improve lives beyond the classroom. The system emphasises accessibility for first-generation students, transfer students, and those seeking career advancement, whilst maintaining a range of institutional cultures from flagship research universities to comprehensive regional campuses focused on hands-on learning. Approximately 90% of graduates remain in Wisconsin five years after completing their degrees.
