International Student Services
International Division

Funding Your Education

Estimated Cost of Attendance

International students are required to provide proof of sufficient funds to pay tuition, living expenses, health insurance, and associated fees to study and live in the U.S. Funds must be liquid, meaning they are readily available to pay expenses. 

Visa Type  Tuition Expenses  Living Expenses 
F-1 Students  1 academic year (fall/spring semesters)  12-months  
J-1 Students  Duration of your academic program  Duration of your academic program 
Expense  Semester Rate  Academic Year Rate 
Living Expenses  $14,094 $28,188  
International Student Fee  $100  $200 
Health Insurance  Fall: $655 

Spring: $917 

  $1,572

Review the expenses calculator.

Tuition rates depend on your education level, major, and credit hours. International students are required to enroll full-time. This document provides a tuition estimate.  

Degree Level  Minimum Full-time Credits 
Undergraduate  12 credits 
Graduate   8 credits 
Professional  Minimum credits vary by program; check with your program coordinator
Exchange Students with UW Study Abroad, CALS Global, or WSB International Programs  You are not required to show funding for tuition, only living expenses are required. 
Important: The total estimated expense, plus any additional dependent expenses, is what you must document for UW-Madison to issue you an I-20 or DS-2019. You should expect an estimated annual increase of 5% each academic year. This increase may be reflected on the I-20 or DS-2019 you receive and therefore may not match the precise amounts listed on the Estimated Expenses document or on your tuition bill.
For the most updated and exact information on tuition and fees, including tuition payment due dates, visit UW-Madison’s Bursar’s Office webpage.

About Estimated Expenses

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Health Insurance

F-1 and J-1 students are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). F-1 and J-1 students and all F-2 and J-2 dependents are required to have health insurance. Waivers are available to students who have insurance that meets UW-Madison requirements. Find more information on health insurance requirements. All health insurance enrollment and waiver questions should be directed to University Health Services (UHS) SHIP office.  

Living Expenses

Please note that the “Living Expenses” column is simply an estimate that is meant to capture all expenses for 12 months (or the duration of your program, whichever is shorter), including housing, food, books, and other costs associated with day-to-day life in Madison for a student coming from abroad. Unlike the “Tuition & Fees” column, expenses in this column are not University charges.  

This estimate is based upon the cost of attendance figures determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) and cost of living data for Madison. The living expenses estimate is reported to the U.S. federal government and included on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 to help consular officers determine if you meet the financial evidence requirement to be issued a student visa. Even if you plan on spending less than the estimate over the academic year, you are still required to show you have this amount available for the I-20/DS-2019.  

What types of financial documents are accepted by ISS at UW–Madison? Supporting documents may include, but are not limited to:

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Personal Funds

A current financial statement or official bank letter that includes: 

  • Full name of the account holder 
  • Amount of money available 
  • Type of currency (ISS will convert your currency if it is not in USD) 
  • Date the statement was issued (must be within one year) 
  • Financial institution letterhead, stamp, and/or signature of a banking official 

Individual Family or Friend Sponsor

A current financial statement or official bank letter that includes: 

  • Full name of the account holder 
  • Amount of money available 
  • Type of currency (ISS will convert your currency if it is not in USD) 
  • Date the statement was issued (must be within one year) 
  • Financial institution letterhead, stamp, and/or signature of a banking official 
  • Affidavit of Financial Support signed by the individual family or friend sponsor (a parent, spouse, relative, or other personal sponsor) 

Education Loan Letter

Letter must include: 

  • Full name of account holder 
  • Date the letter was issued (within the past year) 
  • Amount of money available 
  • Type of currency (ISS will convert your currency if it is not in USD) 
  • Date the loan funds will be disbursed (This can also be a statement receiving funding after issuance of immigration documents) 
  • Financial institution stamp/signature of banking official 

UW–Madison Assistantship or Fellowship

Letter must include: 

  • Date the letter was issued (within the past year) 
  • Dates of assistantship or fellowship appointment/coverage 
  • Stipend amount 
  • Stipend duration (per month or per year) 
  • Appointment percentage(%) 
  • Tuition remission, if applicable. If only a portion of tuition is remitted, a specific dollar amount must be shown. 
  • The letter must be on school, college, or department letterhead 
  • Signature of the assistantship or fellowship guarantor (the signature must be either 1. hand-signed or 2. digitally authenticated.) We do not accept typed signatures. 

Scholarship from a government or organization

A letter that includes: 

  • Full name of the scholarship recipient 
  • Amount of the scholarship 
  • Duration of the scholarship 
  • Type of currency (ISS will convert your currency if it is not in USD) 
  • Date the letter was issued (must be within one year) 
  • Be on institution letterhead or include a stamp and signature of the scholarship guarantor 
  • It is the responsibility of the student to meet the terms and conditions of the scholarship

UW–Madison is required by the U.S. government to verify a student’s demonstration of sufficient financial support for the student and any dependent(s). Proof of funding requirements include: 

  • Acceptable financial documentation must demonstrate continued support into the future, or a combination of sources showing at least the minimum expenses for your program. 
  • Must be written in English or accompanied by an official English translation. 

How to Pay Your Tuition Bill

UW-Madison students can pay their tuition bill through the Bursar’s Office. The Bursar’s Office provides multiple payment methods, including online payments. Students can make international payments electronically.

Students who are sponsored by an organization or government agency should review Third Party Sponsor payment methods.

Graduate students with a graduate assistantship that provides tuition remission should review tuition remission information on the Bursar’s Office website.

International Student Fees Explained 

International students are charged specific fees related to their immigration status as F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant students. This chart provides an overview of the typical fees, including who pays and how. Click on the Fee Type hyperlink or check out the section below the chart for more information about each fee. 

Fee type  Amount   Paid to  Paid by 
SEVIS I-901 Fee  F-1 students: $350 

J-1 students: $220 

 U.S. Department of Homeland Security  F-1 and J-1 students pay one time per unique SEVIS ID. 

F-2 and J-2 dependents do not pay the fee. 
DS-160 Visa Application Fee  $185  U.S. Department of State  F-1 and J-1 students, except citizens of Canada or Bermuda 

-F-2 and J-2 dependents, except citizens of Canada and Bermuda 
New International Student Fee  $355 international freshman (first-year) 

$280 international transfer  

 UW–Madison – 

This charge will appear on your first bill 

 International undergraduate first-year and transfer students 
International Services Fee  $100 each semester enrolled  UW–Madison – This charge will appear on your tuition bill each semester you enroll 

 

 F-1 and J-1 students enrolled at UW–Madison, except J-1 students on an official exchange program.J-1 exchange students admitted for spring 2027 semester or after will be charged the fee.
Admission application fee  Varies 

Undergraduate applicants: $60 

Graduate applicants: $75 + $6 international applicant fee 

Professional school applicants:  

 Admissions office (varies)  Applicants for admission to UW–Madison 

 

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SEVIS Fee

  • What it is 
    • If you are an F-1 or J-1 student, you will have to pay the SEVIS fee to validate your Form I-20 or DS-2019 with the U.S. government. Print your payment confirmation and keep it with your important immigration documents.  
  • When to pay it 
    • You are responsible for paying this fee one time per unique SEVIS ID on your I-20 or DS-2019 (N00——-). The fee must be paid at least 3 business days before you apply for your F-1 or J-1 visa.  
  • If you’re Canadian or Bermudan, you’ll have to pay the fee at least three business days prior to entering the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student. 
  • Who doesn’t have to pay it 
    • You won’t have to pay the fee if you 
      • transferred your SEVIS record from another university. 
      • apply for a new visa later on in your studies. You only need to pay the fee again if you are issued a brand-new SEVIS record and your SEVIS ID number (N00-) on your I-20 or DS-2019 is different. 
      • are sponsored by Fulbright or another similar program. Be sure to check with the organization issuing your DS-2019 to confirm if you have the fee waived. 
      • are an F-2 or J-2 dependent. 

DS-160 Visa Application Fee

  • What it is 
    • This fee is charged to Nonimmigrant visa applicants by the U.S. Department of State.  
  • When to pay it 
    • You are responsible for paying this fee when you submit your nonimmigrant visa application and schedule your visa appointment. This includes F-1 and J-1 students as well as each F-2 or J-2 dependent. 
  • Who doesn’t have to pay it 
    • You won’t have to pay the fee if you: 
      • Are a citizen of Canada or Bermuda (and that is the passport you will use for the duration of your I-20 or DS-2019.)

UW–Madison International Services Fee

  • What it is 
    • F-1 or J-1 international students at UW–Madison, pay $100 for each semester you enroll in classes. This fee is part of the cost of attending UW–Madison and fully supports International Student Services operations.  
  • When to pay it 
    • You are automatically charged each semester you enroll. You can pay the fee when you are paying your tuition and fees for the semester. 
  • Who doesn’t have to pay it 
    • If you changed status from F-1 or J-1 student immigration status to another U.S. immigration status, email iss@iss.wisc.edu with a copy of your USCIS I-797A approval notice for the new status or your visa and I-94 entry record for the new status into your Terra Dotta change of status record.    
  • ISS will end your F-1/J-1 SEVIS record and update your student center record. You will receive an email when your records have been updated.  

Note: To avoid being charged the $100 International Services Fee for a semester, two conditions must be met before the start date of instruction for the semester:   

  • your change of status documentation is properly reported to ISS  
  • your new status start date is on or before the start date of instruction 

Scholarships and Funding

There are limited scholarships and funding opportunities available to international students admitted to UW–Madison. The Office of Student Financial Aid provides information on how to search for reputable scholarship funds to support your education and basic needs.