Yes. Although the high majority of our students will be admitted under the
Sophomore Requirements, the Wisconsin BBA program does now admit a select group of top-tier high school students based on ACT, SAT, and/or class rank. Please see details on the
Wisconsin BBA Direct Admit Program.
There are two fairly consistent averages for admission to the BBA program. Approximately 60% of all students who apply will be admitted to the program. Furthermore, the average GPA of all admits is typically around a 3.5 cumulative. This is not a “make-or-break” mark for admission, this is simply an average from the last several years. Please visit our
Quick Facts to see more admission statistics by admit year.
The application is available at the beginning of the spring semester. You simply create a log-in and your application will be active.
Choose your pathway:
No. The application is considered complete once it has been submitted online.
We look at many different factors to make admissions decisions. The three main factors that make up the application are a student’s GPA, a resume outlining any applicable work experience or student involvement and awards, and essays designed to outline a student’s passion and vision for admission to the business school.
No. The admissions committee will not honor supplemental materials such as letters of recommendation.
It is important to know that you have two chances at admission. If denied the first time, it is wise to meet with your academic advisor to discuss a game plan for either a second application or a possible alternative major. You can also inquire with BBA Admissions to discuss your situation more specifically. Starting at SOAR the summer before your freshman year, the business advisors will discuss the importance of having and developing what we call a “parallel plan.” Understanding other majors on campus that may be a good fit is an important step to planning a parallel major. Your business advisor will work with you to make sure you are appropriately considering possible courses for a parallel plan while also prepping for admission to the Wisconsin BBA.
Yes. There are many different resources we encourage you to pursue. Your pre-business advisors can help outline the timeline and expectations for your first year as a pre-business student. The BBA Admissions office hosts regular Admissions 101 sessions, which are designed to provide helpful hints and tips on developing a strong application.
Wisconsin BBA Scholarships are designated strictly for admitted business students. UW-Madison does have a Common Scholarship Application found at Scholarships@UWMadison. Students may qualify for campus-wide scholarships through this program. However, in order to be eligible for and receive Wisconsin BBA Scholarship dollars, the student must be an enrolled, admitted business student.
The Wisconsin BBA does not have a part in admissions decisions made for the greater campus. Other than the Wisconsin BBA Direct Admit program, the BBA Admissions office will not have a role in your high school application to college.
Yes. However, if you are an admitted business student and wish to double major outside the BBA program, the double major must be with another major in the College of Letters and Science. The BBA program has 10 different areas of study, and you can double major with any two majors within the Business School as well.
Residency information is available to the admissions committee, but does not play a significant role in making final admissions decisions.
There are two main prerequisites for applying to the Business School. You must complete a minimum of 24 credits in residence. Meaning, these 24 courses must be taken on UW-Madison’s campus. AP and any other transfer credits will not count toward the 24 credit requirement. Full-time student status is a minimum of 12 credits per semester. Additionally, a student must complete the (4) Pre-Business course requirements by the end of their spring semester. If one of the four pre-business courses is not complete or is failed by the student, your application will not be considered.
Visit Bucky is a great resource for setting up campus visits. This system will allow you to register for a general campus visit as well as a presentation and tour on the Wisconsin BBA program. The BBA program hosts visitors on most Monday’s and Friday’s. Please see
Visit Bucky to set up your visit with us.
We take a very hands on approach to your admissions application. We firmly believe that if you take our advice, utilize our resources and put your plan into action, you will gain admission to one of the strongest BBA programs in the country; the Wisconsin BBA.
Our Sophomore Admissions model allows us to admit the best students after seeing that you (the student) handled the transition from high school to college, well. Graduating top-tier students helps the program, but also helps future graduates and your opportunity for good job placement by consistently providing strong quality. Additionally, some students will change their major plan. The year in-between high school and BBA admission can also act as a buffer to make sure the BBA path is right for you.
Start off strong! Meaning, do not put yourself in an academic position where you will need to dig your way out for semesters and years to come. Building on a strong start is much easier than having to fight your way back up. Take your classes and GPA seriously, and look to get involved with one of the many BBA student organizations.