About the UW System

This premier system of public universities and colleges—one of the largest in the country—is committed to educating students of all ages and backgrounds and stimulating economic development in the state. The UW System is an academic, cultural, and economic resource that has an annual economic impact of more than $15 billion.  It serves more than 180,000 students each year and employs more than 39,000 faculty and staff statewide. Annually, over one million Wisconsin residents are servUW System maped through statewide outreach programs. 

The UW System is made up of:

  • 13 four-year universities

  • 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges campuses

  • statewide UW-Extension

Together, these institutions are a tremendous academic, cultural, and economic resource for Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.

Learn more about the UW System.

UW System at a Glance

Enrollment:

More than 180,000

Institutions:

13 four-year universities

13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges campuses 

Statewide UW-Extension

Annual Budget:

$6 billion

State Funding:

$1.2 billion

Gifts, Grants and Contracts:

$1.5 billion

Economic Impact:

$15+ billion annually

Degrees awarded:

35,700 annually

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board of regents

The University of Wisconsin System is governed by the Board of Regents, as established by Chapter 36 of the Wisconsin Statutes.  The Board consists of 18 members, 16 of whom are appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the state Senate.  Of these 16 members, 14 serve staggered, seven-year terms; and two are UW System students, who serve two-year terms.  The other two Board members are the state superintendent of public instruction and the president or a designee of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

The Board of Regents appoints the President of the UW System, the chancellors of the 13 universities, the chancellor of UW-Extension and UW Colleges, and the deans of the 13 colleges. These appointees serve at the pleasure of the Board.  The Board also sets admission standards, reviews and approves university budgets, and establishes the regulatory framework within which the individual units operate.