The Wisconsin Guarantee offers guaranteed admission to all Universities of Wisconsin (UW) universities for all who qualify. First-year applicants from Wisconsin high schools who are in the top 10% of their class at the end of 11th grade, or Wisconsin residents who are homeschooled and receive an ACT score in the national 90th percentile ranking or higher, or are a National Merit Scholarship finalist will be guaranteed to all UW universities except UW-Madison.
Additionally, first-year applicants from Wisconsin high schools who are in the top 5% of their class at the end of 11th grade, or Wisconsin residents who are homeschooled and receive an ACT score in the national 98th percentile ranking or higher or are a National Merit Scholarship finalist will be guaranteed admission to UW-Madison provided that they apply on or before the Early Action deadline.
The Wisconsin Guarantee will help us keep Wisconsin’s best and brightest high school graduates in Wisconsin. It’s another tool to help us win the war for talent.
Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman
Additional Information
To qualify for The Wisconsin Guarantee, you must attend high school in Wisconsin, meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria, and apply by the appropriate application deadline listed below.
| UW-Madison Eligibility | All other Universities of Wisconsin Eligibility | |
| Wisconsin High School Class Rank (as listed on 11th grade transcript) | Top 5% | Top 10% |
| Wisconsin Homeschool or Virtual Private School | ACT examination score that places you in the national 98th percentile ranking or higher | ACT examination score that places you in the national 90th percentile ranking or higher |
| National Merit Finalist | National Merit Finalist | National Merit Finalist |
| UW-Madison Additional Criteria | All other Universities of Wisconsin Additional Criteria | |
|---|---|---|
| High School Courses | Complete courses required for admission as determined by the Board of Regents | Complete courses required for admission as determined by the Board of Regents |
| Application Submission Deadline | Early Action Deadline | Regular Admission Deadline |
NOTE: To be considered for The Wisconsin Guarantee, your transcript or school report must indicate your rank is within the top 5% (UW-Madison) or 10% (all other UWs). We are unable to accept class rank reported within the letter of recommendation.
While you will be guaranteed admission to a UW university, all applicants will receive a holistic review to properly evaluate students for admission to available direct-entry programs and scholarship consideration. For further information, please contact the Undergraduate Admission office at the UW university you are considering.
Students who apply during Regular Admission Decision are not eligible for The Wisconsin Guarantee and will receive a holistic review.
Students who apply after the Regular Admission deadline are not eligible for the Wisconsin Guarantee and will receive a holistic review. However, if your high school is participating in Direct Admit Wisconsin and the UW university you are interested in is also participating in Direct Admit Wisconsin, you may receive an admission offer letter in July before your senior year.
Yes! There will be opportunities for Wisconsin high school students who are not in the top 5-10% of their class to still apply and be admitted to a UW university through either the traditional admission process or through Direct Admit Wisconsin for participating high schools. In fact, most Wisconsin high school graduates meet admissions requirements at most of our universities.
Students who are homeschooled but do not have an ACT score in the 90-98th percentile nationally can still apply to be considered for admission to UW-Madison and/or another UW university. While test scores are not required for a holistic application review, students who are homeschooled will need to provide additional materials for consideration. For further information, please contact the Undergraduate Admission office at the UW university you are considering.
New legislation requires Wisconsin school boards, charter school operators, and governing bodies of private schools and tribal schools that operate high schools to prepare a class ranking of students on the sole basis of their grade point average at the end of 11th grade, if there are at least 15 students in the class.
The class ranking must identify students who rank in the top 5% or top 10% of their high school class. Your school must also notify you if you are in the top 5% or 10% of your class and include it on your official transcript.
Universities of Wisconsin may revoke an offer of admission if a student admitted under The Wisconsin Guarantee fails to receive a high school diploma; engages in academic misconduct; experiences significantly declining grades after the application is submitted; or if they misrepresent their class rank, or status as a National Merit Scholarship finalist.
YES, absolutely!
1. Pursuing the most rigorous courses available to you throughout the entirely of your high school experience is the best way to prepare for a successful college experience. Students who pursue rigorous courses ordinarily find that the transition from high school coursework to college coursework is much easier, and often, they earn higher grades than their peers who did not pursue a rigorous college preparatory path.
2. Further, The Wisconsin Guarantee only guarantees admission to a UW university, not to a specific major or program. Admission to some programs and majors is determined by a holistic review of your high school record and the more you demonstrate your academic ability through advanced coursework, the more likely you will be admitted to competitive programs and majors.
3. Additionally, completing AP or IB courses and tests offers you the ability to earn college credit. The more college credit you earn in high school, the more flexibility you have in shaping your college experience. Earning college credit while in high school may allow you to graduate early and save money.
No. The Wisconsin Guarantee does not guarantee an applicant admission to any specific major, college, or school. Consideration for admission to direct-entry programs (e.g., Business, Engineering, Dance, Music) will remain part of the holistic review.
If you are admitted to a UW university through The Wisconsin Guarantee, you must meet the same requirements and/or apply for formal acceptance into your major/academic program (if required by the UW university). For further information, please contact the Undergraduate Admission office at the UW university you are considering.
No. Transfer students are not eligible for The Wisconsin Guarantee. However, there is a Guaranteed Transfer Admission program at the Universities of Wisconsin.