University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public land-grant research university founded in 1848, serving undergraduate and graduate students across 200+ majors while conducting over $1 billion in annual research spanning humanities to hard sciences.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1848
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount10,001+
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What University of Wisconsin-Madison does
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public land-grant research university founded in 1848 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. It serves a broad student body across undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs spanning 200+ majors, with stated enrollments placing it among the largest U.S. research institutions. Beyond education, the university operates one of the top-10 largest U.S. research enterprises, allocating more than $1 billion annually to investigation spanning humanities, life sciences, manufacturing, and materials science. Its research output is administered and commercialized through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), which has translated findings into clinical technologies via partnerships with entities such as GE HealthCare.
The university's revenue model is diversified across tuition and fees (annual subscription, varying by in-state versus out-of-state status and program), federal and private research grants exceeding $1 billion per year, alumni donations and philanthropy, and auxiliary athletics revenue through the Big Ten Conference. Go-to-market is admissions-led, delivered through undergraduate and graduate admissions offices, campus visits, virtual tours, and recruitment events targeting both domestic and international prospective students. Programs such as the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM), which has graduated 327 students since 2007 with 42% practicing in rural Wisconsin, reflect a workforce-pipeline strategy tied to state-level public-service priorities.
Strategically, UW-Madison is repositioning itself around AI-driven scientific research through recent partnerships with Microsoft (Discovery Platform, announced 2025-11-13), GE HealthCare (foundational MRI imaging AI, 2025-10-21), and TitletownTech, alongside the 2026 opening of Third Coast Foundry, a San Francisco innovation hub shared with seven other Midwest universities. It maintains a 10,000+ employee base, recognized brand equity (22 Nobel Prize affiliations, #12 ranking among U.S. public universities, #1 Peace Corps volunteer producer), and continuous healthcare accreditation since 1983 for its University Health Services. As a permanent public trust institution owned by the state of Wisconsin, ownership structure, leadership succession, and revenue mechanics follow public-sector governance rather than private-capital dynamics.
University of Wisconsin-Madison firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Legal name
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Website
- https://wisc.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1848
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 10,001+ employees
- Short description
- University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public land-grant research university founded in 1848, serving undergraduate and graduate students across 200+ majors while conducting over $1 billion in annual research spanning humanities to hard sciences.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of Wisconsin-Madison industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro industry
- Flagship Public Research Universities (R1/R2)Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus SystemsSTEM-Focused Public Research Universities
Keywords
Where University of Wisconsin-Madison is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
University of Wisconsin-Madison business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, course fees, and educational services for enrolled students across all schools and colleges
- Research Grants and Contracts: Federal, state, and private research funding allocated to UW-Madison's research programs, exceeding $1 billion annually in groundbreaking exploration
- Alumni Donations and Fundraising: Philanthropic contributions from alumni, donors, and supporters managed through the Wisconsin Foundation and alumni relations programs
- Athletics Revenue: Revenue from athletics programs including ticket sales, merchandise, and media rights through the Big Ten Conference
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | In-state undergraduate tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Out-of-state undergraduate tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate and professional programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
University of Wisconsin-Madison product offering
Product offeringCore offering
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 200+ majors, conducts more than $1 billion in annual research spanning humanities and hard sciences, and operates as one of the 10 largest research institutions in the United States. The university supports campus-based academic services, research enterprise, student health services, athletics, and community outreach through the Wisconsin Idea framework.
Product overview
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public research university that provides educational services, research programs, and campus operations rather than commercial product/service offerings. The institution offers academic programs across various disciplines, operates campus facilities including libraries, health services, and recreational amenities, and conducts research activities. The university's digital presence includes MyUW portal, Canvas learning management system, UW Theme WordPress platform for campus websites, and various administrative and student-facing digital services. No commercial products or services are offered for external sale or distribution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs across 200+ academic disciplines available to prospective and enrolled undergraduate students, including Wisconsin residents, out-of-state applicants, and international students.
- Graduate and Professional Degree Programs Master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs in specialized fields, including the Wisconsin School of Business and UW School of Medicine and Public Health, for graduate and professional students.
- Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM) Accelerated medical education program through UW School of Medicine and Public Health that trains physicians for rural Wisconsin practice, addressing geographic physician shortages.
- Research Services and Grants Program Multidisciplinary research enterprise delivering more than $1 billion annually in groundbreaking exploration across life sciences, manufacturing, materials science, humanities, and AI-driven scientific research, funded by federal, state, and private grants.
- University Health Services (UHS) Student health services providing ambulatory health care on campus, AAAHC-accredited since 1983, serving the enrolled student population.
- Athletics Program Varsity athletics programs competing in the Big Ten Conference, generating revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and media rights.
Quantifiable outcome
- 42% of WARM graduates practicing in rural Wisconsin areas
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use University of Wisconsin-Madison
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
University of Wisconsin-Madison technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
University of Wisconsin-Madison partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Third Coast Foundry ConsortiumflagshipEight Midwest universities including UW-Madison opened a shared innovation hub called Third Coast Foundry in San Francisco's South Park neighborhood near Mission Bay AI corridor. The 3,500-square-foot space at 625 Second St. will host university-founded startups, workshops, and investor events. Universities collectively invest nearly $10 billion annually in research and educate more than 300,000 students. University of Chicago manages the consortium.
- MicrosoftcoreUW-Madison and TitletownTech collaborate with Microsoft on its Discovery Platform to advance AI-driven scientific research, focusing on life sciences, manufacturing, and materials science. The partnership aims to position Wisconsin as a significant center for AI research and economic development, with pilots beginning in late 2025.
- TitletownTechcoreTitletownTech joins UW-Madison and Microsoft in the AI Discovery Platform partnership to advance AI-driven research in Wisconsin, supporting regional economic development through technology commercialization.
- GE HealthCarecoreGE HealthCare's newest imaging AI underwent testing with Mass General Brigham AI and UW-Madison to refine its latest foundational MRI research model. This partnership supports advanced imaging technology development and clinical validation.
- University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeminorResearchers at UW-Milwaukee collaborated with UW-Madison and Notre Dame on a pilot study called 'Going Home' using virtual reality to help Asian immigrants with dementia and family caregivers reminisce about their homeland.
- Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)coreCollaboration between WARF, GE HealthCare, and UW-Madison has successfully translated scientific research into clinical medical technologies. UW researchers gain access to GE's imaging technology for global use, focusing on precision medicine through AI-enhanced imaging and theranostics innovations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
University of Wisconsin-Madison competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- UCLA: Top-tier public R1 research university with comparable scale and brand reputation, drawing similar out-of-state and international applicant pools. Comparable on research breadth, life sciences, and large medical enterprise.
- University of Michigan: Big Ten flagship public R1 with comparable research budget scale, top-5 public university ranking, and broad STEM and life sciences portfolio. Most directly comparable peer across athletics, research expenditure, and public flagship positioning.
- UC Berkeley: Premier public R1 with comparable Nobel affiliations, AI research depth, and life sciences commercialization. Comparable on international brand strength and top-ranked public university positioning.
- Purdue University: Big Ten public R1 with strong STEM and engineering emphasis, comparable research scale, and similar land-grant institutional DNA. Overlaps on AI research and Midwest applicant competition.
- University of Washington: Top public R1 with comparable research expenditure, life sciences and medical research emphasis, and global brand recognition. Comparable on AI/health sciences research and Pacific/Midwest applicant reach.
- Ohio State University: Big Ten public R1 flagship with comparable enrollment scale, large research expenditure, and medical school. Overlapping applicant pool and similar positioning as a comprehensive state university with national research ambitions.
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Big Ten public R1 with similar engineering and computer science research intensity, top-15 public ranking, and significant federal research funding overlap. Comparable on AI/computing research scale and Midwest land-grant heritage.
Regional players
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities: Big Ten regional peer operating in the same Upper Midwest geographic footprint with comparable land-grant history and Big Ten membership. Closest direct competitor for Wisconsin-resident applicants and Midwest research talent.
- Penn State University: Big Ten public research university with similar scale, multi-campus system, and state-university funding model. Comparable on breadth of academic programs and large research enterprise.
Emerging players
- University of Chicago: Private R1 partner leading the Third Coast Foundry consortium and operating in the same Midwest university ecosystem. Comparable on AI research intensity and influence on UW-Madison's innovation pipeline through the SF hub.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
University of Wisconsin-Madison social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Wisconsin-Madison leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
University of Wisconsin-Madison subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
University of Wisconsin-Madison 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-Madison 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-Madison
What does University of Wisconsin-Madison do?
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 200+ majors, conducts more than $1 billion in annual research spanning humanities and hard sciences, and operates as one of the 10 largest research institutions in the United States. The university supports campus-based academic services, research enterprise, student health services, athletics, and community outreach through the Wisconsin Idea framework.
Is University of Wisconsin-Madison a public or private company?
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was University of Wisconsin-Madison founded?
University of Wisconsin-Madison was founded in 1848. It employs 10,001+ people.
Where is University of Wisconsin-Madison based?
University of Wisconsin-Madison is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does University of Wisconsin-Madison make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Contracts, alumni Donations and Fundraising and athletics Revenue.
Who are University of Wisconsin-Madison's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are UCLA, University of Michigan, UC Berkeley, Purdue University, University of Washington, Ohio State University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Regional players are University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Penn State University. University of Chicago is listed as an emerging player.
Does University of Wisconsin-Madison have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Wisconsin-Madison.
What industry is University of Wisconsin-Madison in?
University of Wisconsin-Madison's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAA, Flagship Public Research Universities (R1/R2), with a secondary code of EDAHAAAI, Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.