The Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison rose 9 spots in our latest ranking, climbing from No. 31 in 2022 to No. 22 in 2023. Overall, in the three main ranking categories, the business school was 35th in Career Outcomes, 20th in Admissions, and 39th in Academic Experience.
Wisconsin’s acceptance rate stood at 23.67%, more selective than last year’s acceptance rate of 27.29%. Its average SAT score was 1340, down a few points from last year’s 1388.
The Wisconsin business experience is best characterized as one that emphasizes leadership development and plentiful opportunities to explore career interests both in and out the classroom.
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
Wisconsin’s internship rate fell somewhat from about 90% of the Class of 2021 having a business-focused internship before graduation compared to 84% of the Class of 2022. Employment, however, rose for 2022 seniors with 94.89% securing full-time employment by the time of graduation compared to 93.02% for the previous class.
Starting salaries were also up, with Class of 2022 earning an average of $68,488 compared to $61,817 for the previous class. 39.73% of graduating seniors secured a signing bonus averaging $6,719.
For those who are perhaps unsure of what career is right for them, the Wisconsin School of Business offers an education with plenty of career exploration and leadership development no matter what path you choose to follow.
CURRICULUM
Wisconsin business students can choose from 11 business majors including: Accounting, Actuarial Science, Finance, Investment and Banking, Information Systems, International Business, Management and Human Resources, Marketing, Operations and Technology Management, Real Estate, Risk Management and Insurance, and Supply Chain Management.
The curriculum for each major incorporates business studies with a foundation in the liberal arts, with many of the liberal arts courses being taken outside of the School of Business. Business majors also can add a certificate to their studies including a Capstone Certificate in Actuarial Science and Foreign Language Certificates.
BUSINESS BADGER BADGES
The Business Badger Badge program offers workshops, experiences, and opportunities to help undergraduate business students gain a deeper understanding of specific skill sets and competencies.
Students in the program choose badges including “Personal Leadership Style” and “Group Dynamics” and complete the criteria for their chosen track. Once they complete the criteria for a track, they earn a badge that serves as a credential to share on their resume, LinkedIn, or with potential employers.
The program is unique because it specifically addresses the increased demand for soft skill competencies in modern business. Through these badges, Wisconsin students can highlight what types of soft skills they developed during their business education and build a more well-rounded candidacy for the career they choose to pursue professionally.
The Wisconsin capstone projects are one of the best ways for students to explore their interests in a particular field or career. These capstone projects often include a team component in understanding a real-world issue and coming up with a comprehensive solution.
2021 Alumni say:
“In my Operations and Technology Management course, I found a niche within the business school that drastically changed my future plans. I ended up with majors in Finance and Real Estate, but focused on a career that focused on Supply Chain and Finance. Without this course, I may have ended up in a different field.”
“Capstone project consisted of developing a product and all aspects of the strategy to bring it to market, including pitching the idea to a panel of investors, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs.”
“In accounting, we had a 9 week internship built into our integrated masters program. The program itself starts late in our junior year and extends through our graduation from the masters program. It is a simple and straightforward program, led by very knowledgeable and distinguished faculty, that basically guided us to full time jobs at our desired Big Four firms.”
“I was in a design thinking course where we had to create a product and then pitch to it a panel of real world execs (a senior leader of Kohl’s and SAP!) It felt like a real world experience in having to come up with the financial plan to support it, present to a board, and receive feedback. It was one of my favorite classes.”
“A senior lecturer in the Real Estate and Urban Land Economics department provided an exceptional in-class learning experience. The class was heavily based around the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program (Section 42 housing). Projects required us to analyze sites, determine how competitive they would be in the program, and putting together development proposals. We had the opportunity to walk existing properties with the developers and learn about some of the challenges they faced. Meanwhile, I was interning over at WHEDA (the housing authority tasked with overseeing this program). I started working there after college and after two years was hired as the VP for one of my clients. If it weren’t for these classes, my interest in this space wouldn’t have been sparked.”
