University of Wisconsin
The Universities of Wisconsin is a public state university system operating 13 universities across Wisconsin, serving more than 164,600 students through nearly 1,500 degree programs, conducting over $2 billion in annual sponsored research, and providing workforce development and extension services to Wisconsin residents and businesses.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1848
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What University of Wisconsin does
The Universities of Wisconsin is a public, state-governed university system comprising 13 universities across 26 campuses and a statewide extension service, serving more than 164,600 students and awarding approximately 37,000 degrees annually. The flagship campus, UW-Madison, was established in 1848, and the multi-campus system was formally unified in 1971 under the Wisconsin Board of Regents. The system operates nearly 1,500 degree programs spanning undergraduate, graduate, transfer, online, continuing education, and veteran/military-connected pathways, and is structured as a non-private government state entity without private shareholders or an IPO.
The system's technology stack includes the Canvas learning management system used across all 13 institutions, the Wisconsin Online unified portal for fully online programs, and the DocFinity enterprise document management platform being deployed in a three-phase rollout beginning Spring 2026 to replace legacy document systems across core operations, HR/finance, and eventually student records. The system conducts over $2 billion in annual sponsored research, anchored by flagship collaborations such as a 60-year partnership with GE HealthCare (130+ joint research projects, nearly 100 patents, including MRI-based liver iron measurement and CT image quality advances using TrueFidelity deep learning) and the Quantum Scaling Alliance with Hewlett Packard Enterprise and semiconductor partners for industrial-scale quantum computing.
Revenue is generated through three primary streams: tuition and fees from approximately 164,600 students, state appropriations from the State of Wisconsin, and sponsored research funding exceeding $2 billion annually, supplemented by auxiliary revenues including athletics. The system is governed by an 18-member Board of Regents appointed by the Wisconsin governor and is not a for-profit enterprise; financial reporting is on a fiscal-year basis aligned with state government cycles rather than quarterly corporate disclosure.
University of Wisconsin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Wisconsin
- Legal name
- University of Wisconsin System
- Website
- https://wisconsin.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1848
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- The Universities of Wisconsin is a public state university system operating 13 universities across Wisconsin, serving more than 164,600 students through nearly 1,500 degree programs, conducting over $2 billion in annual sponsored research, and providing workforce development and extension services to Wisconsin residents and businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of Wisconsin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL), International Branch Campus & Offshore Program Partnerships (EDAIABAI)
Keywords
Where University of Wisconsin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
University of Wisconsin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition across 13 universities, serving approximately 164,600 students annually. The system awards nearly 36,000-37,000 degrees annually.
- State Funding: State appropriations from the State of Wisconsin supporting public university operations and capital projects.
- Sponsored Research: Over $2 billion in annual sponsored research funding driving innovation in healthcare, biotechnology, agriculture, and other sectors.
- Athletic Department Revenue: Revenue from athletics programs including ticket sales, sponsorships, and Under Armour partnership with NIL components.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | General Admission Season Tickets for Volleyball |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
University of Wisconsin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Universities of Wisconsin operates a public university system of 13 universities serving more than 164,600 students across Wisconsin, offering nearly 1,500 degree programs, awarding approximately 37,000 degrees annually. It delivers higher education through on-campus instruction, online programs via Wisconsin Online, and statewide extension services, while driving over $2 billion in annual sponsored research and providing business and workforce development assistance.
Product overview
The Universities of Wisconsin is a system of 13 public universities offering comprehensive higher education services across Wisconsin. The system's technology portfolio includes the Canvas learning management system (LMS) for academic delivery, the DocFinity enterprise document management system being deployed in 2026 for administrative operations, and Wisconsin Online as a unified portal for 100% online programs. These products serve the system's core educational mission across 13 campuses and online learning environments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Universities of Wisconsin System
- Wisconsin Online
- UW Flexible Option
- Extension and Continuing Education
- UW Athletics Program
- Sponsored Research Services
- Wisconsin Business Assistance Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of in-state graduates stay in Wisconsin for five years after earning a degree
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use University of Wisconsin
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
University of Wisconsin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
University of Wisconsin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health)flagshipUW-Madison participating in ARPA-H's EVIDENT initiative with up to $139.4 million in funding to develop new therapies for behavioral health conditions including depression, anxiety, addiction, and PTSD. At least $50 million allocated to match state investments in psychedelic research.
- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)corePartnership through the Office of Business & Entrepreneurship at Universities of Wisconsin to administer SSBCI funding, helping Wisconsin small businesses access capital for growth through technical assistance and investment readiness programs.
- ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) Center for Athlete Health and PerformanceminorPartnership with ECNL for research examining how playing surfaces and heat stress interact to influence musculoskeletal injury and concussion risk in youth athletes. Research conducted in partnership with UW-Madison Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation.
- GE HealthCarecore60-year research collaboration between UW-Madison and GE HealthCare producing over 130 joint research projects and nearly 100 patents. Delivered measurable healthcare advances including MRI-based liver iron measurement for earlier disease detection and CT image quality improvements using GE HealthCare's TrueFidelity deep learning technology. Over 250 UW-Madison alumni currently employed at GE HealthCare. Received the Regents Business Partnership Award.
- Blacksmith MedicinesminorAcademic collaboration with Blacksmith Medicines for antibacterial research. UW researcher David Andes serves as academic collaborator on FG-2101, a first-in-class LpxC inhibitor targeting multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, supported by NIAID contract.
- USDA Dairy Business Innovation InitiativecoreUniversity of Wisconsin is one of four regional hub organizations receiving USDA Dairy Business Innovation Initiative grants to support small and mid-sized dairy businesses with technical assistance, business planning, and subawards for innovation, marketing, and value-added product growth.
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)corePartnership through the Quantum Scaling Alliance to develop scalable quantum computing solutions. HPE is pursuing quantum integration with existing supercomputing platforms, with the University of Wisconsin contributing research capabilities to advance practical quantum computers.
- Quantum Scaling AlliancecoreConsortium led by Nobel Laureate John M. Martinis including Applied Materials, Synopsys, 1QBit, Quantum Machines, Riverlane, and the University of Wisconsin to mass-produce quantum computers using industrial semiconductor manufacturing methods.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
University of Wisconsin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Michigan: Big Ten peer public research university with similarly large sponsored-research base, top-tier medical center, and statewide economic-development footprint; directly comparable flagship model to UW-Madison.
- The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State): Multi-campus public university system in a single state with a flagship research campus and commonwealth campuses, mirroring the Universities of Wisconsin's hub-and-spoke structure.
- University of Minnesota System: Adjacent Big Ten public multi-campus system with Twin Cities flagship plus regional campuses; directly comparable in geography, scale, and mission to the Universities of Wisconsin.
- University of Illinois System: Big Ten multi-campus public system with flagship UIUC plus UIC and UIS; directly comparable research scale and statewide system governance.
- Indiana University: Big Ten public university system with research flagship and regional campuses sharing the same state-wide governance structure as the Universities of Wisconsin.
- The Ohio State University: Big Ten peer flagship with comparable $2B-class sponsored research enterprise, similar healthcare and engineering scale, and overlapping graduate-program footprint with UW-Madison.
Broad incumbents
- State University of New York (SUNY): Large state-wide public university system with a flagship research campus (Stony Brook, Binghamton, UB) plus comprehensive and community colleges - structurally analogous to the Universities of Wisconsin model.
- University of California System: Larger public multi-campus system with multiple research flagships and medical centers; broader incumbent analog but a useful scale comparator to the Universities of Wisconsin.
- Texas A&M University System: Large state-wide public system with a flagship research campus plus system-wide extension and engineering/agriculture focus; structurally analogous to the Universities of Wisconsin's land-grant mission.
Emerging players
- Coursera: Online degree and credential platform partner to multiple public universities; competes with Wisconsin Online for adult learner enrollment and represents the platform-enabled alternative to the UW system's online portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
University of Wisconsin social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Wisconsin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Wisconsin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
University of Wisconsin subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
University of Wisconsin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
University of Wisconsin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about University of Wisconsin
What does University of Wisconsin do?
The Universities of Wisconsin operates a public university system of 13 universities serving more than 164,600 students across Wisconsin, offering nearly 1,500 degree programs, awarding approximately 37,000 degrees annually. It delivers higher education through on-campus instruction, online programs via Wisconsin Online, and statewide extension services, while driving over $2 billion in annual sponsored research and providing business and workforce development assistance.
Is University of Wisconsin a public or private company?
University of Wisconsin is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was University of Wisconsin founded?
University of Wisconsin was founded in 1848. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is University of Wisconsin based?
University of Wisconsin is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does University of Wisconsin make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are state Funding, sponsored Research and athletic Department Revenue.
Who are University of Wisconsin's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Michigan, The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), University of Minnesota System, University of Illinois System, Indiana University and The Ohio State University. Broad incumbents are State University of New York (SUNY), University of California System and Texas A&M University System. Coursera is listed as an emerging player.
Does University of Wisconsin have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Wisconsin.
What industry is University of Wisconsin in?
University of Wisconsin's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems, with a secondary code of EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.