Accelerated Learning Program (ALP)
The Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) admits high school students from Wisconsin, across the United States, and around the globe to engage in three immersive weeks of fast-paced, rigorous, and hands-on learning at the top-ranked University of Wisconsin–Madison. Through a single, non-credit course, students explore advanced academic content while participating in experiential education that fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world application. ALP is designed to elevate each learner’s academic journey. Students may be able to coordinate with their schools to earn high school credit upon successful completion of the program. Limited need-based scholarships are available on a rolling basis to help ensure access for all qualified participants
This year, the Wisconsin International Precollege Academy will become a part of the Accelerated Learning Program as an academic track. This means students participating in WIPA would be a part of the ALP Program in the international college readiness track.
At a glance
Program Dates
June 28- July 17, 2026
Format
In-person; residential or commuter options
Grade Level
For students finishing grades 9-12
Application Opens
January 12, 2026
Apply by
May 1, 2026
Cost
Non-refundable application fee: $100
- Domestic: $4,750
- Commuter: $2,850
- International: $5,100
Limited financial aid available. Tuition payments due May 15th and June 1st.
Location
UW–Madison campus
Instruction Hours
95 hours of class time
Why ALP
Summer offers many options for motivated high school students, but the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) at UW–Madison provides something truly special: the chance to live and learn on a world-class campus while diving deep into a subject of interest. Though UW–Madison is a large university, ALP creates a close, welcoming academic community where students can focus on one intensive course over three weeks. This immersive format allows for meaningful exploration, hands-on learning, and personal growth — opportunities that are often hard to find in a typical high school schedule.
ALP courses are taught by knowledgeable instructors who specialize in their subject areas and tailor material for high school students. Each class is designed to be accelerated and engaging, with a focus on creating a supportive and personalized learning environment. Small class sizes allow instructors to get to know students individually, helping them set learning goals and adjust coursework to be appropriately challenging. Courses begin with a pre-assessment to better understand each student’s strengths and background knowledge. Undergraduate/graduate teaching assistants also support the classroom experience, offering additional help and guidance throughout the program.
Time outside of class is thoughtfully planned and coordinated by residential staff. The residential experiences provides students the opportunity to connect with their peers through small and large group activities. Events and activities are intentionally hosted in and outside of the dorm space to foster social and emotional growth. Students will be able to choose from art-focused, sport-related fun, Olympic-style challenges, and performative-based activities.
What to expect
Students are in class each weekday with a morning class session, an afternoon class session, and a required study session to finish up the academic day. Students should be prepared to interact, learn, and grow at an accelerated pace while exploring their chosen course topic. Students are encouraged to bring a sense of maturity and respect to all aspects of the program — from preparing for class and engaging in activities, to interacting with peers, staff, and the broader UW–Madison community. Students will be able to utilize campus resources and develop greater independence as learners, with support tailored to a variety of learning styles and strengths. By the end of the program, students often see growth in time management, project planning, and a deeper understanding of their interest, abilities and learning pathway preferences.
Residential students get a true taste of college life as they settle into UW–Madison’s vibrant campus community. From living in the dorms to exploring the university and nearby neighborhoods, every day brings new opportunities to connect, discover, and grow. Coordinated activities and free time create space for friendships to flourish. It’s more than just a place to stay — it’s a place to belong.
Commuter students participate in the program on weekdays, attending engaging academic sessions and returning home once the day concludes. While they don’t reside on campus, commuter students benefit from the full academic experience. This format allows students to immerse themselves in challenging coursework and build valuable skills, all while maintaining their home routines. With parent or guardian permission, they may arrange their own daily transportation to and from campus.
application
Admissions Criteria:
Students who participate in the Accelerated Learning Program typically:
- Take advanced coursework offered by their school
- Have been successful in courses that relate to their first choice course*
- Earn a 3.2 or higher GPA (unweighted) or commensurate
- Clearly demonstrate an interest in their first choice course
- Clearly articulate their responses to essay questions
Academic growth is considered and students may use essays or other supplemental materials to demonstrate interest, achievement, or speak to extenuating circumstances that may impact academic performance.
*Some Badger Precollege courses have recommended prerequisites to allow for greatest success. Students may use essays or supplemental materials to demonstrate how their academic course load meets these requirements if they feel it may not be obvious to the admissions committee. Additionally, the admissions committee may request further information to make a determination.
Application Requirements:
All applicants must submit the following materials, preferably as PDFs:
- Two Essays; submitted using the application form (approx. 500 words total)
- Unofficial Transcript; must show all years of high school academic achievement, including current semester.
- If the transcript does not include the current semester/quarter/trimester, please include the current report card as well.
- 9th Grade Students may submit a report card(s) if a transcript is unavailable. Students must submit all high school grades to date.
Applicants may submit additional materials that best represent their ability to be successful in their first choice course. Examples could include optional essay answer, test scores (ACT, SAT, state/national tests, etc.), or letter(s) of recommendation
International Applicants
Demonstrate at least intermediate-level English by:
- Submitting a minimum TOEFL score of 80, IELTS score of 6.5 or Duolingo English Test score of 105.
- If you do not have a test score available and would like to see if your English is suitable for our programs, you may request a phone or video interview with program staff by emailing ALP@precollege.wisc.edu. Interviews must take place before an admissions decision can be made. We recommend you contact us before or shortly after you apply to the program to ensure a timely admissions decision.
International students may have the opportunity to work with Forward International Academy (FIA), a Wisconsin-based high school, to receive U.S. high school credit upon successful completion of the program. Students interested in earning credit should fill out the interest form here or contact FIA’s Student Service Coordinator, Mighty Lou Tinambacan, at mightyltp@usuniversitypathways.com for more information.
Essay Questions:
Please use the essay application form to complete these questions.
- What is your motivation for taking this course? What past experiences will allow you to be successful? How does this course relate to your future plans?
- What is one accomplishment you are the most proud of? (This could be in academics, sports, hobbies, growth goals, etc.)
- (Optional) How do you respond when something is difficult for you? What strategies do you use to overcome difficulties?
Accommodations:
Students can request accommodations after being accepted into the program. Please review accommodation information here.
We are pleased to offer full and partial scholarships to students who participate in the Accelerated Learning Program on a first-come, first-served basis. Please review the information below to see if you qualify. At this time no scholarship assistance is available to international students. Funds available for scholarships are limited and are distributed throughout the month of January-March on a rolling basis.
Prior to applying, a student may request a waiver for the application fee in writing to info@precollege.wisc.edu.
All materials supporting your application for scholarship assistance must be submitted with your application or received within two weeks of program application submission. Documents not included on the application can be sent to info@precollege.wisc.edu. Application for scholarships should be received no later than April 1st, 2026. We encourage you to submit scholarship information early to maximize your chances of receiving aid. Please note that scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, and funds may run out before the deadline.
Please visit our financial information page for more information and to review the full scholarship policy.
Scholarship Application Process
Full Scholarship: Available to WI Residents Only
To qualify for a full scholarship you must:
- Receive free or reduced lunch in the state of Wisconsin during the current school year
- Upload a Badger Precollege Scholarship Form to your online program application or to ALP@precollege.wisc.edu with your school’s Authorized Representative signature (ex: Food Service Director, Principal, Counselor) and the checkbox verifying your free-reduced lunch status.
If you don’t qualify for a full scholarship or are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may qualify for a partial scholarship of up to 50% of the tuition cost.
Partial Scholarships:
To qualify for a partial scholarship you must:
- Provide an alternative document verifying income. For domestic students the recommended alternative is to submit the first page of the U.S. 1040 Tax Form of the most recent year’s tax return. For international students, please submit the first page of the Income Tax Report of the most recent year’s taxes. For security purposes, all personal information like Social Security or other identity numbers should be redacted before submitting the form. If extenuating circumstances (i.e. loans, loss of employment) are not reflected on tax return but are impacting your family’s finances, please also submit your financial need story.
Additional information (essay, interview, phone conversation, etc.) may be requested from students and/or families prior to notification of aid.
Notification of Aid
Families will be notified of decisions via email. Badger Precollege is committed to making an allocation of financial aid funds to allow the largest possible number of students to attend our programs. Families will be required to submit their intent to accept financial aid. Failure to do so by the deadline posted in your award letter may result in a loss of partial or full aid award.
residential
Residential students get a true taste of college life as they settle into UW–Madison’s vibrant campus community. From living in the dorms to exploring the university and nearby neighborhoods, every day brings new opportunities to connect, discover, and grow. Coordinated activities and free time create space for friendships to flourish. It’s more than just a place to stay — it’s a place to belong.
Housing and Meals
Residential student tuition covers the cost to live in one of the residence halls on campus and three meals provided by one of our buffet-style dining halls.
Activities
Throughout the program, students join group outings led by our Residential Assistants to explore Madison, Wisconsin. From walks down State Street to exploring campus, these excursions offer a great way to experience the city together. In the dorms, students can unwind or dive into a variety of residential activities, including:
- Trivia games and bracelet making
- Nature walks and art classes
- Board games, reading, and relaxation
- Shopping trips and movie nights
- Campfires and casual hangouts
As with all Badger Precollege programs, students have access to a supportive team of residential assistants, instructors, and administrative staff who are always available to help with questions, guidance, or just a friendly chat.
Free Time
An important part of any precollege experience is the opportunity for students to explore and practice autonomy while in a new setting. With a balance of unstructured and structured free time students can socialize and try new things, but also take time for independence and relaxation. Each day is scheduled for students to have a level of freedom while adhering to boundaries and timeframes. They will have freetime in the afternoon after classes and workshops and again after dinner. Each period of free time also features optional activities organized by residential staff, which students may participate in if they would like.
Weekends
We all enjoy a little extra time to sleep in on the weekends and at Badger Precollege we make sure to factor it into the schedule! On weekends students have more time to explore other parts of campus and Madison often through staff-led excursions. This could include opportunities to kayak, shop, take an art-making class on campus, play a game of pick-up ball, and much much more. Longer periods of time for activities and exploration give students the opportunity to socialize with others through staff-led activities, or do some self-exploration as well.
Weekend Trips
Each weekend we offer day trips for students to experience things like the Milwaukee Zoo and a Milwaukee Brewer’s game; one of the amazing waterparks in the Wisconsin Dells; aquarium and museum visits, and shopping in Downtown Chicago. These trips are optional and students can sign-up to participate at an added cost once admitted into the program. More information about this summer’s weekend trips will be provided after admission to the program has been determined.
Getting to the program
All international students should arrive to Madison, WI one day prior to the official program start date. For ALP, this will be on Saturday, June 27th. The purpose of this is so Badger Precollege can facilitate an International Student Orientation on Sunday morning before the remaining participants arrive. After acceptance, the Badger Precollege team will provide students with additional information regarding the best airports to utilize, timeframes for arrival, and opportunities for shuttles. All housing and meals are included in the tuition costs.
Travel requirements and visas
The University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) have determined that summer programs offered by Badger Precollege serving precollege students at UW–Madison are programs that require a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa for any non-U.S. citizen or non-permanent resident.
The B-2 visa is for individuals traveling to the U.S. for: Tourism, Visiting family or friends, Receiving medical treatment, or Participating in social or recreational events. It does not permit employment or long-term study.
As of 2025, B-2 tourist visa applicants to the United States face stricter screening, higher fees, and earlier application deadlines. These updates are designed to improve security and reduce processing delays.
To qualify for a B-2 visa, applicants must:
- Have a clear and temporary purpose for visiting.
- Show financial ability to cover their trip.
- Prove intent to return to their home country after the visit.
Application Process
- Complete Form DS-160 online.
- Pay the visa fee.
- Schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Attend the interview with appropriate documentation:
- Valid passport DS-160 confirmation page
- Visa fee receipt
- Supporting documents (e.g., travel itinerary, financial proof, ties to home country)
International student applicants are strongly encouraged to bring their program admission letter, among other supporting documents, to their visa interview at the U.S. Embassy. The process of obtaining visa and travel documents is the responsibility of the student applicant. The University of Wisconsin–Madison cannot advise students on visa procedures or eligibility. For more information about the application and required travel documents, view the B-1 or B-2 VISA Form, contact the Badger Precollege office or visit the U.S. State Department website.
Cancelations and Refunds
Badger Precollege reserves the right to cancel classes when necessary, including those for which enrollment numbers are not sufficient, or those for which a highly qualified instructor is unavailable. In the case of course cancellations, we will be happy to help you choose an alternative course. If no acceptable alternative is available, we will refund any tuition paid, minus any non-refundable application fees. We will also work with families to process refunds in the case of student illness or injury.
Refunds may take up to eight weeks to process, starting from the time a written request is received by the Badger Precollege office.
To view the full refund policy and other financial policies, please visit our financial information page.
Application process
Explore the course options available and review the application information below for admission criteria, application requirements and essay questions, and information regarding accommodations. Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis and courses fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Early registration will increase the likelihood of being placed in your top choice.
If applicable, review the scholarship information and prepare necessary documentation.
Gather any supporting documentation needed. International students should also review specific requirements related to English proficiency.
Complete the online application, indicating your first-choice course and uploading all application and any scholarship documents.
Admissions decisions made by a committee and will be released on the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month. Depending on when you apply, you may wait 2-5 weeks before receiving a decision. Students can be Admitted, Conditionally Admitted* or Denied. If admitted, students have three weeks from the date of admittance to secure their enrollment by submitting all required acceptance forms.
*Conditionally Admitted: the student may need to provide additional information and will have three weeks to do so. If the student is unable to complete the additional steps or the additional documentation does not meet required standards, Badger Precollege reserves the right to determine when and how denial is communicated.
Waitlists: Students must apply to the program to be placed on a waitlist and, if admitted, submit all required forms within three weeks of admission as course waitlists are generated on first come, first served basis. Admitted students will receive a form allowing them to request a spot on a course waitlist. We recommend students to complete the form as soon as they are admitted to secure the best spot on the waitlist.
“I enjoyed this program so much. It was amazing to be able to use all of the materials that we used during the labs, and I really enjoyed being on campus. It has definitely increased my interest in science in college.”
– 2024 ALP Student
Upcoming classes
New this year is the ALP Academic Track for International Students in the Wisconsin International Precollege Academy. An academic track is a structured pathway or specialization within an educational program. It guides a student’s overall learning focus and long-term goals. It is different from a class in ALP, as a class is a specific course you take within the three-week program. Click here to find out more information on the WIPA International Track.