WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
Find yourself out in front with a business degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Discover your unique path.
Follow your individual passions. Join a supportive community. public undergraduate business program —U.S. News & World Report, 2023-24
ON THE PULSE OF INNOVATION
FOCUSED ON INCLUSIVITY
DEDICATED TO COLLABORATION
INTEGRATIVE CURRICULUM
CONNECTED TO TOP COMPANIES
As an integral part of the Wisconsin Business Badger experience, the Career Forward program offers a different type of careerreadiness. You’re paired with a supportive network of career coaches, academic advisors, and career pathway consultants to immerse yourself in the possibilities for your future.
40+
25
10
career pathways to explore
staff and faculty make up our Career Engagement Team
interview rooms available for practice and recruiting
The Career Forward program is here to support you on your journey—because no two are the same.
1 Explore
Take time to reflect and identify your values, interests, and passions. One-on-one career coaching, events, and school resources help you explore the school’s business majors and identify career pathways you’re excited about.
2 Prepare
Start discovering your career options now!
Take our quiz and explore how your interests match our majors.
Understand the skills and experiences you need to successfully pursue your career of choice. Participate in competitions and student organizations. WSB resources help you configure course sequencing and recruiting timelines, get access to leadership opportunities and experiential learning, and connect with alumni and companies across the country.
3 Recruit
After creating a tailored plan to be recruited, you’ll have face time with a diverse group of employers through career fairs, on-campus events, employer site visits, and networking opportunities. Career coaches support you through your application and interview process to help you put your best foot forward.
4 Transition
As you prepare to enter an internship or full-time job, Career Forward ensures you have the professional skills needed to stand out and succeed.
Track all your progress with an interactive app exclusive to Business Badgers as you hit key milestones.
Year 1
Year 3
Sam’s Career Forward Journey
Sam Komisar (BBA ’23) Analyst, Deloitte Chicago
Interns at The Ability Center Lands internship at Baird with help of Career Forward to explore investment career options
Works with the Career Engagement Team to discover consulting is the right career path for him
Year 2
Interns at Spaulding
Year 4
Visits consulting firm Spaulding Ridge as part of a Career Trek to Chicago
With the help of career coaches and alumni and his involvement with student orgs, is hired for a full-time job at Deloitte
The Wisconsin School of Business partners with leading companies from across the nation and around the globe that recruit and hire our students, year after year, because they know Wisconsin graduates are experienced and prepared for success.
Almost all students complete at least one internship
$4,586
average monthly internship salary
500+ recruiting companies
$
94%
of graduates actively seeking employment secured a full-time position within six months of graduation
Leading hiring partners:
3,301
average base salary received a signing bonus
59%
Wisconsin business grads take their skills to Fortune 500 corporations, major nonprofits, and startups all over the world. UW–Madison’s enthusiastic alumni help connect you to opportunities.
46,000+
Wisconsin School of Business alumni across the globe
1 in 4
students secures a position outside of the Midwest after graduation
Top cities for graduates: Chicago, New York, Milwaukee, Madison, Fox River Valley Area in Wisconsin, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Denver, Washington, D.C., Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth
Business for a changing world
Career exploration in the real world
Academic support to help you succeed
Curriculum is focused on refining your technological, ethical, and innovative skills to prepare you to lead in an increasingly complex business landscape. From sustainable capitalism to cloud-based analytics, courses will connect you to the latest business topics.
Visit companies around the country on Career Treks, grow your skills and network through internships, and plan for the future you want at the Career Exploration Conference. Plus, WSB’s job shadow program offers short-term, on-site learning experiences with employer partners in which students shadow day-to-day operations and responsibilities, tour facilities, participate in discussions, and more.
From academic advisors to help you manage your courseload to success coaches who help you stay on track, our supportive community is here to help you succeed.
Accounting
#1 in U.S.
Accountants report the financial activities of a business or an individual. In accounting, you work with all aspects of money management and help businesses make strategic decisions for financial well-being.
Average starting salary: $69,673
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial-minded professionals launch and grow their own ventures, join innovative startups, or work in organizations that foster an entrepreneurial mindset. You learn the skills needed to identify, evaluate, and pursue new business opportunities as well as to manage and lead entrepreneurial teams and organizations.
Average starting salary: $66,936 #34 in U.S.*
Human Resource Management
Actuarial Science
Named National Center of Actuarial Excellence
Actuaries apply problem-solving skills and knowledge of math, statistics, economics, and finance to create business solutions and predict results. You can work in insurance, manage risk, or lead operations.
Average starting salary: $74,682
Finance, Investment, and Banking
#26 in U.S.
Finance professionals manage organizations’ financial resources, weighing the risks and returns associated with financial products and institutions. You gain skills in analysis, trading, policy, financial markets, forecasting, and venture capital.
Average starting salary: $79,132
Information Systems
HR leaders build collaborative and inclusive company cultures, manage policy creation and execution, oversee staff development, and lead critical negotiations.
Average starting salary: $61,756 #15 in U.S.**
Management
Professionals in information systems use technologies to analyze business problems and processes. You use these analyses to design and implement computer-based systems that support operations, decisionmaking, and planning.
Average starting salary: $79,256
Marketing
Average starting salary: $71,000 #22 in U.S.
Management professionals oversee staff, develop strategy, and conduct analyses to support major decisions. Learn how to lead high-performance teams, companies, nonprofits, and government agencies.
Marketers research consumer demand for products and services. You manage corporate brands, conduct marketing communications campaigns, and lead sales teams.
Average starting salary: $63,911 #9 in U.S.
*Ranking from Princeton Review, 2023. **Ranking from EduRank, 2024.
Rankings from U.S. News & World Report, 2023-24, unless otherwise marked.
Our curriculum is designed with the changing world in mind. Select multiple majors, add certificates, and tailor your education to fit your goals.
Operations and Technology Management
In operations and technology management, you create and improve the processes that organizations follow to deliver quality goods and services to the right place at the right time, with the right balance of cost and speed.
Average starting salary: $72,007
Estate
#1 in U.S.
As a real estate professional, you can work in development and construction, real estate financing, brokerage, leasing, property management, appraising and assessment, or urban planning.
Average starting salary: $79,269
Risk Management and Insurance
#2 in U.S.
Risk and insurance experts protect organizations and their customers and support effective growth. You manage financial, legal, insurance, contractual, or product risks.
Average starting salary: $74,096
Supply Chain Management
#14 undergraduate supply chain program in North America —Gartner, 2024
Supply chain managers are essential to keep the global economy running. You strategize the flow of goods and services, source materials, and oversee manufacturing and delivery of products.
Average starting salary: $72,295
Customize Your Education With Business Certificates
From foreign languages to sustainability to LGBTQ+ studies, UW–Madison offers over 70 certificates that you can add onto your business degree to show your specialization and area of interest.
Popular certificates have included Spanish for Business Students, Chinese Professional Communication, Digital Studies, Sports Communication, and Accounting, as well as:
Consulting
Learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed in the consulting field. Pair with any major and be ready for a consulting career.
International Business
Explore the complexities of business on a global scale. Gain the cross-cultural knowledge needed for a role in a multinational company.
Boost your career readiness, diversify your skills, and grow your salary potential for your first post-grad job.
Handle the complexities of commercial real estate transactions. Gain knowledge and make industry connections to pursue the real estate career path of your choice. Our applied learning opportunities provide hands-on experience working on real-world projects in the community.
The program is delivered by the same faculty who have earned a #1 national ranking for the undergraduate program in real estate.
Earn a STEM-designated degree. Guide cross-functional business processes. Today’s global business environment requires integration of analytics tools, information systems, manufacturers, suppliers, inventory management, and distribution to meet customer demand. Gain in-demand skills in operations, marketing, analytics, and risk.
#6 master’s in supply chain management program in the U.S. —QS World University Rankings, 2024
MS in Business Analytics
Learn to leverage data to solve business problems with this STEM-designated master’s program. Use cutting-edge tools to hone your analytical skills and seize opportunities in the fast-growing world of turning data into decisions. Learn analysis, data visualization, machine learning, experimental design, and optimization.
#8 public master’s in business analytics program in the U.S. —QS World University Rankings, 2023
Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
Become a certified public accountant. Our individualized internship program, grounding in professionalism and ethics, and active employer network position you to start the career of your choice— in industry, government, nonprofits, or public accounting. For those without an undergraduate accounting major.
MS in Data, Insights, and Analytics
Invest in your development, deepen your knowledge, and earn a degree that prepares you to thrive in business analytics. Part-time for two years, this program is 100% online and asynchronous so you can watch lectures and complete coursework whenever it’s most convenient for you.
Gain theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, and real-world insights to launch your career in investment research and portfolio management. In the program, you’ll connect with industry professionals and have the opportunity to manage over $20 million in equities and fixed income assets.
Learn to be an innovative arts administrator, nonprofit executive, or social entrepreneur. Build on your creative skills and background to make a difference and build a career. Develop a portfolio of strategic abilities rooted in business practice and complete an applied learning placement or launch a start-up project as a part of the program.
91%
accepted job offers within six months of graduation —Class of 2023
Enhance your background in accounting and learn advanced technical, consulting, and analytical skills. Take courses tailored to your desired career path: accounting, assurance, and advisory (AAA) or tax. Customize your education by choosing courses across five emerging disciplines to give you deeper expertise and further boost your career success. For those with an undergraduate accounting major.
Explore the master’s programs at business.wisc.edu/graduate/masters
At the Wisconsin School of Business, you get the latest, most relevant business education available. Faculty, staff, and alumni push the boundaries of business and challenge students to work with established leaders inside and outside of the classroom.
This introductory course helps you develop leadership skills, facilitates networking, and encourages personal reflection on future goals. It was created with feedback from students, alumni, employers, and faculty/staff in order to prepare students for internships, full-time jobs, leadership roles, and community engagement.
The WSB Business Plan Competition is a Shark Tank-style contest where students develop business ideas and pitch them to local entrepreneurs and investors. Winners receive up to $4,000 to launch their ventures as well as targeted entrepreneurship resources to more fully develop their business models.
Wisconsin students have the opportunity to put their business skills to the test in an array of national case competitions. Showcase your ability and work with a team of Business Badgers to solve real-world challenges, and come up with innovative solutions. WSB participates in several competitions designed for first-year students.
Every year, a group of senior finance majors get the opportunity to join the School of Business’ MBA finance leaders for a career-focused program that prepares them for analyst roles in the finance industry. Students complete a team-based project and are mentored by industry experts and alumni.
Students in WSB’s #1-ranked real estate program have many opportunities to engage with realworld scenarios. Students take a deep dive into estate development through visits to major U.S. cities, participate in case competitions, and gain access to top employers and a network of 2,000 active real estate alumni. Recently, students also had the opportunity to study the sustainable development component of the City of Madison’s comprehensive plan. By using data, interviewing stakeholders, and collecting case studies, they developed analyses and recommendations that they then shared with city leaders and staff.
DANIELLE TIEDT (BBA ’96) Chief Marketing Officer, YouTube San Francisco, California
Danielle Tiedt (BBA ’96) is the chief marketing officer at YouTube. Since joining the company in 2012, she has worked along the cutting edge, growing the company from “a platform for dogs on skateboards” to an economic powerhouse and one of the world’s most recognizable brands.
Looking ahead, Danielle strives for the continued evolution of YouTube. Specifically, she envisions a platform that’s truly a source for good: a hub for reliable information on some of the world’s most challenging issues, from health literacy to climate change.
“I think the next 10 years are really about how we ensure that YouTube has all the information that people need to make positive change in the world. I think that work is never done, especially as the world gets bigger and more complex.”
Build leadership skills, earn digital badges, and demonstrate to employers you are ready to take on the nuanced challenges of today’s fast-paced business world.
Attend workshops, conferences, case competitions, and service days, and apply what you learn. Many badge requirements also help you get on track for completing UW–Madison’s leadership certificate.
Explore your leadership, strengths, and interpersonal styles while enhancing your ability to recognize and adapt to different styles of others. It builds off the introduction to leadership theories from the Personal and Professional Foundations of Business (PPFB) course.
Develop a deeper understanding of group dynamics and focus on collaboration and supporting the learning and development of others. Learn to work well within a team structure, negotiate and manage conflict, and build tools to motivate others.
Gain an intermediate understanding of social justice concepts and the role that diversity and identity play in the enhancement of teams and businesses.
Learn to identify opportunities for positive change and develop strategies for implementation. Practice engaging stakeholders in the change process.
Assess the impact of complex decisions from a lens of social responsibility. Learn how business decisions can benefit society by supporting local communities, working toward environmental sustainability, engaging in ethical labor practices, and more.
Participate in a three-day immersive leadership retreat at Lambeau Field and work on leadership skills that will prepare you for a career at a major organization. Hear from various leaders within the Packers, participate in small group discussions, and go behind the scenes at Lambeau.
Learn more at business.wisc.edu/undergraduate/leadership/badges
Situated in the heart of the bustling UW–Madison campus, Grainger Hall is the perfect home for your exciting new journey as a business scholar, taking your knowledge and career-readiness to great heights.
The cooperative provides academic support and tutoring resources for students in core business courses. These include accounting, economics, finance, psychology, calculus, operations and technology management, and business analytics coursework. The Study Cooperative provides small group tutoring, study group coordination, and individual study space.
One of the first in-house leadership centers in a U.S. business school, the Accenture Leadership Center (ALC) helps students develop and practice leadership skills through workshops, case competitions, conferences, and more. It is also home to the Business Badger Badge program.
In partnership with Dr. Julie Phillips, the mental health provider embedded within WSB, the business school offers student support services and individual and group therapy sessions. Dr. Julie offers drop-in consultations to WSB students and will engage in outreach services, programming, consultations, and trainings.
The Learning Commons is a library and study space that integrates three floors in Grainger Hall to create a vibrant atmosphere where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry leaders learn from and engage with one another. It includes a Finance and Analytics Lab, collaborative learning classrooms, group work space, individual study space, and tutoring support services.
Our success coaches serve as advocates and connection points for students, and they can partner with you to work collaboratively with instructors.
Academic Advising Team
Our advisors work one-on-one with you to help you explore your interests, and work to prioritize customizable experiences like study abroad, internships, and balancing double-majors.
Our career coaches help with career exploration, internship and job search strategies, interview preparation, résumés and cover letters, and more.
9,500+ one-on-one appointments are conducted each year
Experience an inclusive culture where each individual is valued and differences are celebrated. We support diversity in our student body, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and intellectual differences.
The School of Business’ Multicultural Center in Grainger Hall hosts events and provides resources to strengthen and sustain an inclusive campus where all students, particularly students of color and other historically underrepresented students, can realize an authentic Wisconsin experience. With a strong focus on social justice, the center gives students an opportunity to learn about and engage with current issues and participate in workshops and community building.
UW–Madison offers two business-specific living communities. Business Connect in Ogg Hall is home to 120 first-year students directly admitted to the Wisconsin School of Business. Students participate in WSB programming and mentoring, develop study groups, and work on new business ideas and concepts. Startup is an entrepreneurship-focused community located in Sellery Hall. Each year, 64 students from a variety of majors live and learn together. Students work to bring their business ideas to life, network with peers, and compete for funding opportunities.
These informal groups help students with shared identities connect with each other to talk about their experiences, and/or focus on working toward a particular mission or goal together. Current groups include: WSB Black Undergraduate Affinity Group, WSB Latine Undergraduate Affinity Group, WSB LGBTQ+ Undergraduate Affinity Group, WSB Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi-American (APIDA) Undergraduate Affinity Group, and WSB First-Generation Affinity Group. More groups are in development.
Wisconsin undergraduate business students come from around the country and the globe to build a supportive network, learn from different perspectives, and strive to make an impact on the business world. Providing an inclusive environment is central to the Wisconsin School of Business’ efforts to educate the next generation of business leaders.
Fall 2023 Enrollment
3,596 total students
96% female students students of color* first-generation students international students of Fall 2022 first-year students returned to WSB for their second year in 2023
2023 Direct Admit Freshman Class Profile
43 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and 65 countries represented at WSB
1,000+ UW–Madison student orgs
Find the perfect student organization for you at win.wisc.edu/organizations.
*A student of color is defined as an individual who identifies as one or more of the following racial and ethnic groups: American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, African American/Black, Hispanic/Chicano/Latino(a)
The Wisconsin School of Business offers business-focused study abroad programs in 15+ different countries. The programs are hosted by highly regarded business schools around the world. About 40 percent of business students study abroad.
35+
Students also have the opportunity to participate in a nonbusiness-focused study abroad program through one of UW–Madison’s 300+ additional programs on six continents.
Studying abroad is a great way to customize your college experience, meet people from around the world, and explore your interests.
• Develop a global perspective that changes your worldview
• Experience international business and prepare for a world economy
• Challenge yourself and develop confidence in your abilities study abroad and exchange partners
Read blogs by Wisconsin undergraduate students abroad at https://blog.studyabroad.wisc.edu/
among all U.S. institutions for semester study abroad participation —Open Doors Report, 2021 #3
Majors Operations and Technology Management, Supply Chain Management, & Marketing
National University of Singapore Business School, Singapore
Traveled in Spring 2024
Laomani Sisongkham grew both as a student and as a person while studying in Singapore
I will always remember the greenery, and walking all of the gardens that I could—whether it was the morning runs in Kent Ridge Park, the seven-mile hike alongside wild monkeys (yes, wild monkeys) in MacRitchie Reservoir, peaceful walks in the Botanic Gardens, or watching night shows at Gardens by the Bay. I bring this collection of memories up because the act of walking through a park is metaphorically significant to my personal growth while abroad: learning as I go, taking in the moment, and smiling as I view all the beauty.
This exchange program at the National University of Singapore has brought me an entirely new perspective, and so much joy in life. I look forward to building a lifelong relationship with Singapore and will happily reflect on my time here as I return home.
Discover your path to a Wisconsin undergraduate business degree
3 Paths to Admission
BBA students, no matter how they are admitted, graduate from UW–Madison in an average of 3.72 years
Apply to the University of Wisconsin–Madison at apply.wisconsin.edu or commonapp.org
Indicate business or a specific Wisconsin undergraduate business major to be considered for direct admission #1 #2
All students who apply to UW–Madison and indicate business as their first choice of major are automatically considered for direct admission.
Admission as a current UW–Madison student or transfer student
Approximately one third of the program’s students are admitted after at least one year at UW–Madison or another institution. Students can apply a maximum of one time during the spring semester after meeting the prerequisite requirements.
Schedule a meeting with a Wisconsin undergraduate business program admissions counselor to discuss our pre-business path and ways to prepare for admission. Visit business.wisc.edu/undergraduate/events for more info.
4 Courses Required Before You Begin Your Business Degree
Every Wisconsin undergraduate business student must take four prerequisite courses before beginning upper-level business courses—regardless of how you are admitted. You may transfer AP or college credits for these courses before you arrive at UW–Madison. However, once you start at UW–Madison, any remaining prerequisite courses must be taken on campus.
Learn more about the prerequisites for Wisconsin undergraduate business students by visiting business.wisc.edu/undergraduate/admissions/pre-business-policies/ or by scanning the QR code. (one course from select options)
*The majority of Wisconsin undergraduate business students, regardless of how they are admitted, begin business fundamentals during their second year. Direct admit students may have the opportunity to begin business fundamentals during their first year depending on course availability.
*Undergraduate business school tuition adds an additional $3,000 (Minnesota fees may differ).
The Wisconsin School of Business provides over $2 million in scholarship support to admitted and enrolled Wisconsin undergraduate business students each year. There is a wide variety of financial aid and scholarship options available to incoming UW–Madison and/or Wisconsin School of Business students. To be considered for most awards, completion of the FAFSA is required.
NOE VITAL (BBA ’15) CEO and Co-Founder, Vibez Golf Club
San Diego, California
Noe Vital always knew he wanted to start a business—but the idea for that business came to him in an unexpected place: the golf course.
As he began to enjoy playing golf, he noticed a lack of diversity in the game. Noe launched Vibez Golf Club with nine friends to expand the game of golf by paving the way for new demographics. Vibez aims to rebrand the sport and introduce it to kids of diverse backgrounds who never thought golf might be an option for them.
“We just need to remove the barriers to get someone from ‘I want to play’ to ‘I’m on a golf course.’ How do we remove all those barriers? Make it as welcoming and approachable as possible—and then once they get there, they can experience the game on their own.”
best place to live —Livability.com, 2022 #1
Camp Randall Stadium, Kohl Center, UW Field House, LaBahn Arena
Homes of the Wisconsin Badgers sports teams—many of which consistently top national rankings and compete for Big Ten championships.
Unmatched biking, hiking, and sports. World-class art, music, and theater.
Madison is consistently rated one of America’s favorite places to live or go to school. Take advantage of urban amenities and enjoy small-town friendliness. Immerse yourself in a vibrant capital city, engage with a growing startup community, and benefit from a relaxed, nature-filled environment.
Visit Madison.wisc.edu to get a glimpse of all Madison has to offer.
The beautiful Wisconsin State Capitol building rests in the center of the city, flanked by restaurants, shopping, and museums. The Capitol Square hosts a wildly popular farmers market.
Madison’s legendary pedestrian-only street connects campus and the Capitol Square and is dotted with restaurants, shops, and concert venues.
Happiest City in the U.S.
—WalletHub, 2024 #4
Just blocks from Grainger Hall, the Memorial Union is UW–Madison’s cultural hub and iconic waterfront hangout. Overlooking Lake Mendota, the Memorial Union Terrace has water sports, presents a regular lineup of music and cinema, and showcases Alumni Park. Inside, students participate in lectures and performances featuring the world’s most current and prominent cultural voices.
U.S. News and World Report, 2024
Madison has five gorgeous lakes, with campus bordering Lake Mendota and within walking distance of Lake Monona. Students sail, paddleboard, hang out at the scenic Memorial Union Terrace, and hike or bike along the shores. Make sure to check out the picturesque Picnic Point.
Madison is a major hub for the arts, with several music, theater, and comedy venues close to campus, a stunning contemporary art museum, and an array of outdoor festivals.
