UW–Madison was ranked 35th out of 437 public and private doctoral institutions, and 12th among public universities, in the 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings, according to a recent press release.
It is UW–Madison’s highest overall U.S. News ranking in the past 15 years and the fifth year in a row that the university has moved up — advancing 14 places since ranking 49th in 2019.
U.S. News has made major changes in its methodology for the most recently published rankings, and UW–Madison’s overall position was up three places from 38th in the 2022–2023 rankings.
Individual metrics on which UW–Madison scored in the top 50 include:
- “Best Colleges for Veterans” at 19th overall and 12th among public institutions;
- Graduation and retention rates at 45th; and
- Academic reputation at 30th overall and eighth among public institutions.
Each year, U.S. News ranks specific undergraduate programs and specialty areas at universities. In the 2024 rankings, UW–Madison was rated among the best undergraduate programs for:
- Engineering at 17th overall and ninth among public universities;
- Business at 17th overall and seventh among public universities;
- Computer science at 22nd overall and 11th among public universities;
- Nursing at 16th overall and 10th among public universities;
- Economics at 18th overall and fourth among public universities; and
- Psychology at 11th overall and fifth among public universities.
