UW-Madison Ranks High for Value and Aid

The Princeton Review's 2027 rankings place the University of Wisconsin-Madison among top public schools for best value and financial aid.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Financial Aid

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The Princeton Review named UW-Madison No. 11 for best value among public schools in its 2027 rankings, and No. 5 among the Top 20 Best Schools for Financial Aid. The university's best value ranking rose six spots from the June 2025 ranking.

Why it matters

The rankings weigh return on investment, which factors in academics, financial aid and college costs, giving prospective students and families a comparative measure of affordability. For Wisconsin residents weighing public higher education, the results highlight how the state's flagship campus compares with other public institutions nationally.

UW-Madison ranked No. 11 among public schools for best value and No. 5 for financial aid in the Princeton Review's 2027 list, which considered 650 schools to select 209 Best Value Colleges. The source does not state how the rankings' methodology weights each factor.

The players

Princeton Review

The Princeton Review is an education services company known for publishing annual college rankings and guidebooks.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is the flagship public research university of the Wisconsin system, located in Madison.

The details

In 2024-25, nearly 57% of UW-Madison undergraduates received financial aid, including close to $129 million in scholarships. The university also ranked No. 14 among public schools for Best Alumni Networks and No. 16 for career placement, where student ratings of career services and alumni salary information factor into the score.

November 3, 2026: Princeton Review released its 2027 rankings.
June 2025: Previous Princeton Review rankings, from which UW-Madison's best value ranking rose six spots.
March 2026: First Destination Survey results were released showing 91% of bachelor's graduates said UW-Madison prepared them for their career path.

Season Trajectory

UW-Madison's rise on the Princeton Review's best value list, up six spots since June 2025, extends a recent upward movement in the annual rankings. Its financial aid ranking climbed from No. 7 to No. 5, placing it among the strongest public institutions on that measure.

Prospective students comparing public colleges can use the best value and financial aid rankings as one input when weighing tuition against available aid. Families should review their own aid eligibility directly with the university, since national rankings do not determine individual awards.

The takeaway

Rankings measure return on investment, so a school's sticker price is only part of the picture. Comparing net cost after financial aid can show which public option offers the most value for a given family.