Wisconsin School of Business

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Wisconsin School of Business

Overview

The Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) is the business school of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, founded in 1900. It emphasizes applied learning, integrating real-world business problems into coursework across undergraduate and graduate programs. The MBA program is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the United States.

Programs and Formats

  • Undergraduate programs: broad offerings with popular majors in finance (including investment banking), marketing, real estate and urban land economics, and management/human resources.
  • Full-time MBA: a 21-month program that includes a summer internship.
  • Executive MBA: weekend format with periodic sessions and an international residency (10-day trip).
  • Flexible MBA options: virtual and weekend classes for working professionals, allowing completion in roughly 2–5 years.

Key Facts and Selectivity

  • Undergraduate enrollment (recent term): ~3,300 students.
  • Full-time MBA class size (2022 graduating class): 96 students.
  • GMAT range: 80% of MBA candidates scored between 610 and 700.

Cost and Return on Investment

  • MBA tuition (reported): approximately $21,166 per year for in-state residents and $42,704 per year for non-residents.
  • Recognized for strong return on investment; lower tuition relative to peers contributes to high ROI rankings.

Career Outcomes

  • Recent MBA graduates reported a median starting salary near $108,000 and an average signing bonus around $24,700.
  • Close to 90% of graduates secured job offers within three months of graduation.
  • Alumni work across fields such as real estate, risk management and insurance, supply chain management, and brand/product management.
  • WSB is noted as a top producer of Fortune 500 chief executive officers.

Reputation and Rankings

  • MBA program: consistently placed among top U.S. programs by outlets such as Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, and The Economist.
  • Undergraduate business program: ranked among the top public undergraduate business programs nationally.

Notable Institutional Feature

In 2007, a group of alumni donated a major gift with a stipulation preventing renaming of the school for a defined period, helping preserve the institution’s established identity rather than adopting a donor name.

Conclusion — Who It’s Right For

The Wisconsin School of Business suits students seeking an applied, career-focused business education with flexible graduate formats, strong career outcomes, and solid ROI—especially attractive for in-state students given the tuition differential.