Knowledgebase: General program information

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been regionally accredited since 1913 by the Higher Learning Commission, and this includes UW–Madison Online. Through UW–Madison Online, you can achieve your goals of earning a bachelor’s degree from a highly regarded institution.

Yes! We strongly encourage UW-Madison Online students to participate in their graduation ceremony if it’s feasible. You’ll have the opportunity to celebrate your achievement in person alongside fellow graduates in Madison.

Yes, you can change your major within the Wisconsin School of Business. If you are looking to change your major from business, you should speak with your advisor as you make your decision and before you take action to change majors/programs.

Study abroad opportunities are generally designed for on-campus students, and availability for online students may be limited. If you’re interested, we recommend connecting with an admissions advisor and the study abroad office to explore what options may be available based on your program and enrollment status.

UW-Madison does not award credit for prior work experience. However, your work experience can provide a foundation and perspective to build on while in your UW–Madison Online courses. Your work experience can enrich your online classroom experience, therefore enriching your current skills and knowledge.

No. UW–Madison Online programs are designed for fully remote study, and enrollment in an online degree does not include access to on-campus housing. If you want to live on campus, you would need to apply and be admitted to an on-campus program.

Yes, you are welcome to get a student ID (Wiscard) as a UW–Madison Online student, which gives you access to library resources as well as other select student services. Here is more information about how to get a Wiscard.

No. UW–Madison Online students do not automatically get access to campus recreation facilities. Access to gyms, pools and other on-campus rec resources is generally reserved for on-campus students who pay segregated fees, which online students don’t have to pay. If you want to use the recreation facilities, you’ll need to contact RecWell about affiliate or separate membership options.

Revision: UW–Madison Online students do not automatically get access to campus recreation facilities since they do not pay the segregated fees that support those facilities. However, you can contact RecWell about affiliate or separate membership options.

No. To use University Health Services, you must be a UW–Madison student who pays segregated fees, which online students don’t pay as part of their tuition. If having access to UHS is important to you, contact UHS or an admissions advisor to confirm exactly what’s available based on your enrollment status.

Revision: UW-Madison Online students do not have access to UHS since they do not pay the segregated fees that support UHS. However, you can contact UHS to see what service options are available to you as an online student, based on your needs.

With UW–Madison Online, you have five sessions in which to enroll throughout the year. You can enroll in consecutive sessions or take a session off to give yourself a break if needed to re-energize for the next session. With five different sessions, you may take one course at a time or multiple courses.

The time it takes to finish your degree depends on how many credits you transfer, how many credits apply to your remaining degree requirements, how many credits you take per session, course availability and/or if you take time off in between sessions. With five different sessions, you may take one course at a time or multiple courses at a time, depending on what works for you.

Before you register for classes, you will meet with a UW–Madison Online academic and career advisor to review how your transfer credits apply to your degree requirements and how many credits you have left. Your advisors will help you plan your time to finish your degree; they will help make sure you take the right courses that you need at the right time.

Yes! While the UW–Madison Online degree itself is fully remote, you’re absolutely welcome to visit the main campus in Madison to get a feel for the environment, attend general admissions events, or take a campus tour. There’s also a 360° virtual tour if you can’t make it in person.

Yes, online students can typically attend career fairs and networking events hosted by the UW–Madison School of Business, either virtually or in person. For in-person events, you would need to travel to campus, but many fairs now offer online options.

Once you enroll and begin an online term, you cannot automatically switch to the on‑campus program. The online and on‑campus programs have separate admissions and enrollment processes. If you want to move to campus, you would need to apply separately to the on‑campus program.

A credit hour represents the amount of work associated with a course. For most UW–Madison courses, one credit hour typically equals about 1 hour of class time and 2 hours of homework per week over a term. So a 3‑credit course usually involves roughly 3 hours of instruction plus 6 hours of study each week.

Postposed admission means a university has not accepted or rejected an applicant but will re-evaluate their application during a future admission period.

Apply as a nondegree special student for any term. Please note that not all classes are available to special students. Connect with a special student advisor for guidance and questions.

The Declaration of Intent is a short form you submit to confirm that you plan to transfer to UW–Madison Online upon completion of your associate’s degree. It informs us of your interest so a transfer student advisor can connect with and help you ensure you are on track and prepared to transfer.

An associate’s degree is typically a two-year degree that provides foundational knowledge. A bachelor’s (undergraduate) degree is usually a four-year degree and is required for many professional roles and graduate programs. A master’s (graduate) degree is an advanced degree you pursue after earning a bachelor’s, often to specialize or advance in your field. Which one you need depends on your career goals and current education level.

A postponed student pathway to admission (or deferral) is a recommended action plan for a student whose admission is postponed, based on a holistic admissions review. An action plan may include taking transferable courses elsewhere to demonstrate more recent academic success or to fulfill degree requirements. Postponed students should discuss their pathway to admission with a UW-Madison Online advisor to understand the recommendations and develop their action plan.

We currently offer bachelor’s degrees online in the areas of business administration and nursing. Explore the program details for each degree offered. Be sure to check back for program updates!

Yes! We strongly encourage UW-Madison Online students to participate in their graduation ceremony if it’s feasible. You’ll have the opportunity to celebrate your achievement in person alongside fellow graduates in Madison.

When you finish your degree through UW–Madison Online, your diploma and your final transcript will note that you graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. When you graduate, you are part of the UW–Madison alumni community.