A bill advancing through the Wisconsin Legislature would require admissions to the University of Wisconsin–Madison to rely primarily on standardized testing, a move supporters say would strengthen academic standards at the state’s flagship university.
The proposal has already cleared the Wisconsin Assembly in a 52–45 vote and passed a Senate committee. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Supporters say the legislation is designed to ensure that admissions decisions are based on consistent academic benchmarks.
“We have one of the best university systems in the entire country and we should be doing everything that we can to raise standards so students meet those standards,” said Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point. “We’re doing the best we can to prepare these students for life after college and hopefully they stay right here in this state.”
The proposal would work alongside the Wisconsin Guarantee program. That program ensures that the top 5% of students in each public, private, or tribal high school in the state — based on grade-point average after their junior year — are guaranteed admission to UW–Madison.
Under the new legislation, standardized testing such as the ACT or SAT would play the predominant role in admissions decisions for applicants outside that guarantee pathway.
Officials with the Universities of Wisconsin system raised concerns about the bill in testimony submitted to lawmakers. The system argued that the term “predominantly” is not clearly defined in the legislation and said admissions decisions should continue to emphasize a broader range of academic indicators.
University officials said research consistently shows that a student’s high school grade-point average is one of the strongest indicators of college success.
“Substantial higher education research demonstrates that high school grade point average is a strong and consistent predictor of student success, reflecting sustained academic engagement, growth, and perseverance over time,” the Universities of Wisconsin Office of Government Relations said in written testimony.
The testimony also cited research from UW–Madison’s Student Success Through Applied Research Lab, which found that standardized test scores add limited predictive value beyond high school academic performance.
UW–Madison officials also warned that the legislation could create unintended consequences for students from certain backgrounds.
A letter submitted by the university noted that many high schools across the Midwest no longer require standardized tests, and requiring them could create barriers for some applicants.
“Research shows that test scores are highly correlated to family income,” the university wrote in testimony. “Students from higher-income households are more likely to access extensive test preparation resources and multiple test opportunities.”
The university also pointed to data showing that ACT scores among rural students tend to be lower across income levels than those of students in urban areas.
Backers of the bill argue that grade-point averages can vary significantly from one school to another, making standardized testing a more consistent benchmark.
Supporters say two students with identical GPAs may not have completed the same level of coursework or academic rigor, depending on the school they attended.
“This reestablishes merit-based admissions back within higher education,” Testin said.
