UW–Madison defines an adult student as someone who is 25 years of age or older. Students who wish to take courses at UW–Madison but are not pursuing a degree should direct their questions to Adult Career and Special Student Services.
An applicant who wants to pursue an undergraduate degree and has not earned college credits is considered a first-year student. An applicant who previously attended college at either a community college or a different university is considered a transfer student. Someone who was previously enrolled at UW–Madison as an undergraduate, but did not complete a degree, is considered a reentry student.
We encourage applicants who have been away from formal classroom teaching for an extended period to request a letter of recommendation from someone who can speak to their academic potential, such as an employer (preferably a supervisor or manager), a program or departmental trainer, or some other individual in an official instructional capacity.