UW–Madison’s impact on the state of Wisconsin

For 175 years, UW’s life-changing research, innovation and education has served generations of Wisconsin families. We’ll never stop working to make our state — and the world — a better place.

Learn more about UW’s impact in your county

Can't Stop a Badger

Biomedical engineering undergraduate students Josh Andreatta, Annabel Frake, Tim Tran, Samuel Skirpan and Roxi Reuter have taken a standard rowing machine and modified it so that it’s easily convertible for users in wheelchairs.

UW Innovation Badgers engineer solutions around the state

Pedestrians and students walk among the colors of the fall leaves near Bascom Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during autumn on November 11, 2021. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)

Access to UW–Madison Bucky’s Pell Pathway to debt-free education

UW undergraduate Jacob Zabel talks with recruiter Stacey McMorrow from Covance during the annual Spring Career and Internship Fair held at the Kohl Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Feb. 5, 2019. The fair featured 215 employers and was open to all current students and alumni. (Photo by Bryce Richter /UW-Madison)

Economic Impact Badgers are in demand after graduation. How UW makes it happen.

Serving Wisconsin Wisconsin Teacher Pledge addresses state shortage of educators

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$1Blocal and state taxes generated

$30.8BUW, affiliated organizations, and related startups' economic impact

92%Of UW economic impact benefits the private sector

232,000Jobs supported

400+UW-related startups in Wisconsin

8thin the nation in research expenditures

UW research tackles real-world problems

From advanced materials aimed at making athletes safer to medical discoveries that could one day help treat ailments like blindness, here are just a few examples of UW–Madison research that tackles real-world problems with innovative scientific approaches.

Pioneering new ways to treat drug use disorders

The UW Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances is running clinical trials on treatments for opioid and methamphetamine use disorders that affect millions

UW researchers develop new material to help prevent concussions

A lightweight, ultra-shock-absorbing foam developed by UW–Madison engineers could vastly improve helmets designed to protect people from strong blows

Drone-delivered defibrillators could save lives

A professor of engineering is designing ways to optimize response time when it's needed most

Lab-grown eye cells a step toward clinical trials to treat blindness

Development of replacement cells may lead to new treatments for macular degeneration, glaucoma

Forward BIOLABS helps UW-related startups thrive

This unique, state-of-the-art coworking life science lab is helping grow Wisconsin's thriving biohealth industry

COVID-19 patient receives the gift of life

UW Health successfully performs double-lung transplant surgery

Find more impact stories through the Wisconsin Ideas Newsletter

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UW in Your County

Guided by a common purpose, UW students, alumni, faculty and staff give back to every county in Wisconsin through research projects, professional careers and public service.

La Crosse County

266 Current Undergraduate Students

423 Medical Professionals with Degrees from UW

2,186 Alumni

Notes on the data

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Badgers in Action

LAND CONSERVATION Steve & Susan Carpenter

UW couple gives back by conserving biodiverse land in Wisconsin’s driftless area

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2022 MACARTHUR FELLOW Monica Kim

Historian wins “Genius Grant” for work exploring the changing nature of warfare

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PUBLIC HEALTH Ajay Sethi

Previously low-profile epidemiologist becomes trusted voice on public health misinformation

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2022 SCHMIDT SCIENCE POLYMATH Randall Goldsmith

Chemistry professor assembles interdisciplinary team to explore the behavior of single molecules

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