University of Wisconsin–Madison GRE requirements (2026)
The UW–Madison Graduate School does not require the GRE, but individual programs may. Many high-demand programs such as Computer Sciences have dropped the requirement entirely, while quantitative PhD programs like Economics and Agricultural & Applied Economics still require scores.
About University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public land-grant research university and the flagship of the University of Wisconsin System. Graduate admissions are administered centrally through the Graduate School in coordination with individual programs.
GRE requirement by program
University of Wisconsin–Madison sets its GRE policy by program, so there is rarely a single university-wide answer. Below is each program we have checked, with its status, a link to the program's own admissions page, and the date we last confirmed it.
| Program | Status | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
Graduate School / central policy PhD and masters | Varies by program The Graduate School's requirements page states: "The Graduate School does not require the GRE. Your academic program may or may not require it." Applicants are directed to check their program's website, and any required scores are submitted to ETS institution code 1846. | info.grad.wisc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Computer Sciences (MS, PhD) MS and PhD | Optional The Computer Sciences admissions page states the GRE is not required: "Neither the Graduate School nor the Department of Computer Sciences requires the GRE for admission." GRE scores are optional but may be reviewed if submitted. | cs.wisc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Economics (PhD) PhD | Required The UW–Madison Guide entry for the Economics PhD states applicants must submit three letters of recommendation and Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, and the admissions detail lists GRE as Required. | guide.wisc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Agricultural & Applied Economics (MS, PhD) MS and PhD | Required The Agricultural & Applied Economics apply page states GRE scores are required for admission and must be from within the previous five years, and that GMAT scores are not accepted in lieu of the GRE. The page's wording references a prior cycle, so applicants should confirm the requirement still stands for the current cycle. | aae.wisc.edu | Jun 2026 |
Each status was read from the program's own admissions page (last checked 20 06 2026). Policies change between cycles; always confirm on the linked official page before you apply.
Not the program you need? The status is set department by department. Use the three-step check on the is the GRE required page to confirm any program in a couple of minutes.
Should you submit a GRE score?
Where University of Wisconsin–Madison marks a program Optional, a score comfortably above the program's admitted-student median can strengthen a borderline application, especially for funded or international applicants. Below that median, your effort is usually better spent on the required parts of the file. Where a program is Not accepted, do not send a score, it will not be reviewed.
Unsure where you would land? Sit a free full-length mock and convert your scaled score to its exact official percentile before you decide.