UW-Madison Awards Record Number of Degrees
The university conferred 14,162 degrees to 14,092 recipients in the last academic year.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Higher Education
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UW-Madison awarded a record number of degrees in the last academic year, totaling 14,162 degrees to 14,092 recipients. The university announced the figures on Wednesday.
Why it matters
The record totals reflect strong enrollment and completion across the university, with computer science as the top major. The launch of a new college this summer signals the institution's response to growing demand in the field.
UW-Madison reported 14,162 degrees conferred to 14,092 recipients, including 878 research doctorates and 3,034 master's degrees. The prior-year totals used to establish the record were not included in the announcement.
The players
University of Wisconsin-Madison
A public research university in Madison, Wisconsin, and a member of the Big Ten Conference, it is among the largest universities in the United States.
The details
UW-Madison announced the record degree totals on Wednesday. Computer science was the top major, followed by economics, psychology, data science and biology in the 2024-25 academic year.
Timeline
2019: The School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences launched.
2024-25 academic year: Students earned the most bachelor's degrees in computer science, economics, psychology, data science and biology.
Summer 2026: The College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence launched.
Culture Shift
The new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence follows the 2019 launch of the School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences, extending that school's growth into a full academic division. It is UW-Madison's first new academic division in more than 40 years.
Madison residents and prospective students may see expanded computer science offerings as the new college takes shape. The record graduation totals indicate a larger pool of degree holders entering the local workforce.
The takeaway
Computer science has become the leading major at UW-Madison, and the new college formalizes that shift. Prospective students interested in computing now have a dedicated academic home on campus.
Further reading
Explore more on Higher Education coverage from the Madison area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by La Crosse Tribune.
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