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Marquette University vs University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin logo

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 14 applicants admitted to both schools:

21%
79%
Median scholarship: $84,000 Median scholarship: $42,000

Based on 14 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (71 cross-admits)
11% chose Marquette University 89% chose UWisconsin

71 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

Marquette University is Top 75 · UWisconsin is #29 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares Marquette University and University of Wisconsin across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Wisconsin is ranked #28 compared to #59 — a gap of 31 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Wisconsin has a median LSAT of 167 compared to 158, a gap of 9 points. This suggests applicants to University of Wisconsin face a more competitive admissions pool.

Both schools are located in Wisconsin — Marquette University in Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin in Madison — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

On cost, University of Wisconsin has lower tuition at $36,526 per year compared to $51,970. Combined with employment rates of 95.0% (Marquette University) and 93.5% (UWisconsin), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Marquette University offered a median scholarship of $84,000 compared to $42,000, a difference of $42,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

Marquette University
vs
University of Wisconsin

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric Marquette University UWisconsin
USN Rank #59 #28
LSD Rank Top 75 (0.005) #29 (0.022)
LSAT 25th 156 161
LSAT Median 158 167
LSAT 75th 160 169
GPA Median 3.70 3.81
Acceptance Rate 22.1% 19.1%
Class Size 218 224
Yield Rate 46.7% 46.4%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric Marquette University UWisconsin
Tuition (In-State) $51,970 $36,526
Tuition (Out-of-State) $51,970 $53,640
Median Grant $23,000 $35,000
% Receiving Grants 94.0% 94.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric Marquette University UWisconsin
BigLaw (501+) 6.4% 12.5%
Judicial Clerkships 2.0% 5.7%
Median Salary (Private) $80,000 -
Employment Rate 95.0% 93.5%
Bar Pass Rate 50.0% 80.0%

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