Nearly half of our Undergraduate students enter the Wisconsin School of Business through the Pre-Business process, usually applying in the spring of their first year for admission into the program beginning the following fall semester.

Applicants must apply prior to earning 86 credits, which includes in-progress, retro, transfer, and pre-enrollment coursework. Prerequisite courses in communications, calculus, economics, and psychology are also required.

Beginning with the March 2022 application, applicants will be able to apply once for admission through the Pre-Business process. We encourage you to review the complete list of Undergraduate Admissions policies.

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Application deadlines and key dates

Information for the Spring 2021 application (for Fall 2021 enrollment) is listed below.
Deadline Description
March 3, 2021 Undergraduate admission application opens at 8:00 a.m. CT
March 17, 2021 Undergraduate admission application closes at 4:00 p.m. CT
On or before
July 1, 2021		 Application decisions announced
September 7, 2021 New admits officially become Wisconsin Undergraduate students at Undergraduate Induction
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Admitted Student Profile

Eligible applicants should apply when they feel their application is strongest, keeping in mind there are a greater number of applicants and admission offers for first-year students looking to start their second year in Business. There is no preference based on year in school when making admission decisions.
Admit Rates by Spring Term Cycle
Spring 2019 Spring 2020
UW All Applicants 55% 47%
UW First-year Applicants 63% 52%
UW Second-year Applicants 41% 35%
Approximate Average Admit GPA 3.55 - 3.65
Approximate mid-80th Percentile GPA Range 3.33 - 3.95

Admit rates do not include Direct Transfer applicants, and vary based on resource capacities and number of submitted applications.

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Apply to the Wisconsin Undergraduate Program

The Wisconsin Undergraduate Program application for current UW–Madison students consists of four parts:

  • Online application: Available March 2021
  • Application Limit: Review the Undergraduate admissions policies page to review the limits on how many times a student may apply for the Undergraduate Program.
  • Academic record: The minimum GPA to apply is 2.75 at both the time of application and conclusion of the spring term. Your transcripts will be available to us as a part of your UW-Madison records. For additional details on GPA calculation, visit the Undergraduate admissions policies page.
  • Résumé: Check out our résumé resource guide for help.
  • Essay: View our essay preparation tips.

Apply now

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Attend pre-business events

The Wisconsin Undergraduate Program hosts a number of pre-business events that will help you explore your interest in business and guide you through the application process. These workshops take a sequential approach, and prospective students are strongly encouraged to attend every workshop offered in this series.

Explore pre-business events

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Meet with an advisor

The Wisconsin Undergraduate Program offers one-on-one advising for prospective Undergraduate students currently enrolled at UW–Madison. Our Pre-business advising team is available to help you prepare for admission and determine if the Wisconsin Undergraduate Program is the best fit for you.

Get personalized support

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Scholarships and financial aid

The Wisconsin School of Business provides nearly $1 million in scholarship support to admitted and newly enrolled Undergraduate students each year. To be considered for scholarships from the School of Business, a WiSH application is required and FAFSA strongly recommended to be considered for most awards.

Explore scholarships and financial aid options

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Contact us

Want to learn more about the Undergraduate admissions process? Let us know how we can help.

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