
Half a million Badgers and counting
UW–Madison has reached the milestone of 500,000 living alumni. See how they’re spreading the Wisconsin Idea around the state, country and world.
When the UW–Madison Class of 2025 crossed the stage at spring commencement in May, those graduating students led the university to a remarkable milestone: a community of Badger alumni numbering more than half a million.
The university can now boast more than 502,000 living alumni. These accomplished grads live in all 72 counties across Wisconsin and in more than 200 countries around the world. Among them are Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, corporate leaders, start-up founders and Peace Corps volunteers. Astronauts, Olympians, and dairy experts who put food on the American dinner table are just some of the noteworthy achievers who share in the Badger spirit.
“It’s so exciting that the UW alumni community has reached such a significant milestone,” says Sarah Schutt, chief alumni engagement officer for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. “The four alumni from the class of 1854 would be astounded to witness the global reach of UW–Madison today and the tremendous, positive impact of alumni over the last 177 years. The university is fortunate to have such a passionate, proud and powerful network to sustain its excellence for the next century and beyond.”
As UW alumni return to campus this week for Homecoming 2025, scroll on to learn more about this extraordinary community of half a million Badgers — and where they’ve landed across the state, country and world.
502,352
Living alumni
Wisconsin counties with UW alumni
Cities with most alumni (out of state)

- Chicago (10,637)
- Minneapolis (10,204)
- St. Paul (6,809)
- New York (4,114)
- Seattle (3,054)
- Denver (2,962)
- Washington, D.C. (2,430)
- Portland (2,410)
- Brooklyn (2,205)
- San Francisco (2,052)
States with most alumni (top 10)


202.7K

34.8K

30.4K

28.1K

13.3K

10.7K

10.6K

9.4K

8.4K

6.5K
Countries with most alumni (outside U.S.)
- Mainland China/Hong Kong (4,418/929)
- South Korea (2,030)
- India (1,597)
- Canada (1,297)
- Malaysia (841)
- Indonesia (684)
- Japan (678)
- Singapore (494)
- Thailand (480)
- United Kingdom (473)

6,628
Alumni who attended
2024 Homecoming
Number of living alumni by graduation decade



Nobel Prize winners among all alumni
74
Alumni chapters around the world
Schools and colleges with most alumni (top 5)

Most majors among Letters & Science alumni
- Economics (20,940)
- Political Science (20,242)
- Psychology (18,501)
- History (17,617)
- English (15,856)
Peace Corps volunteers among all alumni


1
Badger who has flown to the moon
Data courtesy of the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association and public sources.