Transcripts

Order your Official Transcript

If you were enrolled in a term from Fall 2010 to present:

Log in to MyUW and access the Parchment transcript ordering system through Student Center>Academic Records>Request My Official Transcript.

Order my transcript

If you were enrolled in a term from Fall 1979 to Summer 2010:

Log in with your 10-digit UW campus ID and PIN, or by verifying four digits of your Social Security Number and a course you took while at UW–Madison. Once logged in, find the “Academic Records” box and click “Request My Official Transcript”.

If you were enrolled in Summer 1979 or earlier:

You will need to log in or create an account with Parchment to place your transcript order. If you attended prior to 1978, some or all of your records may be non-computerized which may result in additional processing time. 

If you are a third party ordering someone else’s transcript:

All transcripts orders require correct authorization before the order can be filled.

Order a transcript

If you are unable to place an online order:

Download a PDF order form

Need help ordering a transcript through your Parchment account?

Contact Parchment support  

Need assistance accessing your MyUW Student Center to order a transcript? 

Contact the Office of the Registrar

Unofficial Transcript

Your unofficial transcript contains information about your enrollment and courses at UW–Madison:

  • your courses, majors, certificates, and degrees
  • grades, credits, and total GPA
  • changes in your academics, like dropped classes or grade changes
  • Dean’s List or similar awards
  • notes from dean’s offices and advisors
  • dates of your enrollment at UW–Madison

Your unofficial transcript is different from your official transcript because it includes details like dean’s office notes, which are not part of the transcript. The transcript is printed on security paper or encrypted as a secure PDF so other organizations can trust that it is authentic. The unofficial transcript is a plain PDF that you can easily get yourself, when you  need a summary of your academic history at UW–Madison.

View your own Unofficial Transcript

  • Students enrolled in a term from Fall 2010 to present: go Student Center via MyUW.
  • Students enrolled in a term from Fall 1979 to Summer 2010: go to Student Center via MyInfo.

If you are unable to access Student Center, you can request an unofficial transcript in person at our office. Picture ID, preferably a student ID, is required. There is a limit of one copy per student per visit; however, they are printed on plain paper and you can easily make your own copies.

Types of Academic-Record Documents

Depending on your situation, you may be able to use a different kind of official document, like an enrollment verification or proof of your degree. Explore these other types of academic-record documents before you order a transcript—you might get the right information faster, without sharing more of your academic record than you need to.

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Unofficial Transcript

If you just want to look at your academic history, and you were enrolled at UW–Madison in Fall 1979 or after, you can quickly view your Unofficial Transcript (sometimes called the “student record”) with a PDF through the online Student Center tool. Your Unofficial Transcript includes everything that would be in an official transcript, plus notes about grade changes or actions by deans on your behalf.

Degree verification/completion letter

If you only need proof that you have earned a UW–Madison degree or have completed Graduate School requirements for a degree, you can receive a letter verifying your accomplishment.

More verification information.

Enrollment verification

To prove that you are currently enrolled at UW–Madison, you can download a PDF with your enrollment status from Student Center.

More verification information.

Enrollment and degree verification for employers

Prospective or current employers can order their own proof of your enrollment or degree through the National Student Clearinghouse, which charges them for each request.

Voter enrollment verification

Students using a UW–Madison-issued voter-compliant ID card also need to show proof of enrollment at their polling place. You can get a special version of this just for voting purposes.

More verification information.

FAQs

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What is the difference between an unofficial and an official transcript? Which one should I get?

The unofficial transcript does not contain official University signatures or seals and includes some details that will not appear on an official transcript.
Some examples: grade changes, breadth information and notes about academic standings such as probation. These examples and more will only appear on an unofficial transcript and are intended to provide advisory information for you, your advisors, and academic dean’s office.

An official transcript is a legal document verified by the university.
Official transcripts are printed on security paper with the UW-Madison seal. A PDF version will be encrypted and have special access codes to protect your privacy.

Our suggestion:
Are you looking to apply to graduate school? Order an official transcript.
Are you looking for quick access to enrollment information such as your GPA? View an unofficial transcript.

How much does it cost to order an official transcript?

UW-Madison transcripts are free of charge. The cost of producing a variety of official documents for students is covered by a one-time fee charged with the first term’s tuition.

There is no charge for first-class U.S. Postal Service delivery, nor for PDF delivery. FedEx service with tracking numbers is available for an extra fee. Visa and MasterCard can be used for online orders. Our office can accept checks for mailed or in-person orders.

What is the expected processing time for my order?

Hard copy: Most online transcript orders take one to three days to process, not including postal/express delivery time. Please expect a longer process time if you have sent the Office of the Registrar a paper/PDF order form or if you attended UW-Madison prior to 1979.

PDF copy: Most PDF copies are delivered via email within an hour (often sooner) of placing the online order. Your recipient will receive two emails; one with a link for downloading the transcript and the other with an access code.

Pickup copy: The Office of the Registrar will email you when your pick-up order is ready. We typically send out notices each morning, but if you need to pick up your transcript the same day you placed the order, please give us a call and we’ll confirm if it’s ready.

Can I send the official transcript to a 3rd party?

Yes. Select your transcript to be delivered and enter the recipient’s information/choose the relevant one from an existing list.

If I request an official transcript to be sent to a 3rd party, will it be sent directly from UW-Madison?

Yes. Official transcript orders placed through the MyUW Student Center are considered sent directly from UW-Madison, either by mail or electronically. Mailed transcripts will arrive in sealed envelopes.

Can I order an electronic version of my official transcript?

Yes. The first step in the order process is to choose between a PDF and a hard copy. Select PDF to order an electronic version of your official transcript.

Is the PDF secured?

Yes. The PDF is encrypted and only the recipients will receive instructions for downloading and opening the file.

Can I print the PDF myself?

You can, but you shouldn’t. The printed document will display watermarks and will be considered unofficial. You are welcome to order another copy to be mailed to you or pick up a printed copy from the Office of the Registrar.

Can I add an attachment to be sent along with my transcript?

Yes. After choosing a recipient, select the Yes radio button under the Attachment Options for this Recipient section at the bottom of the page. You will be asked to upload the attachment after the order has been submitted.

If the attachment requires additional information or signatures from our office, please select “UW-Madison must add information to my attachment” right before confirming the attachment.

How can my transcript be sent to an application service (such as AMCAS, LSAC)? I have an applicant number.

In the Recipient search, search for and select the appropriate application service. Review the recipient’s information and any special instructions. You might be asked to provide further information specific to your application.

Attachments: Some application services will automatically generate an attachment containing your Application Service ID. Otherwise, you will be given the option to add an attachment.

Important note: Official transcript orders placed through the MyUW Student Center are considered sent directly from UW-Madison even though our transcript vendor finalizes the processing. If your application service is asking for an attachment to be sent directly from UW-Madison, placing the order as instructed above will meet that requirement.

How can my electronic transcript be sent to an application server that does not accept encrypted files?

We advise to either upload an unofficial transcript or take screenshots of the official transcript and upload the images to the application system instead.

Can a friend pick up my transcript for me?

Yes. After choosing the in person pickup service, you will be asked to provide the name of the person picking up the order. Only that person will be able to pick up your transcript and they will be asked to present a valid ID.

How many copies of my transcript can I order?

You can only order one copy of your transcript at a time, but you can place as many orders as you need.

Can I send my transcript to more than one recipient?

Yes. After you have successfully added a recipient, select the Add Recipient button.

Please note: you cannot add additional recipients to orders that will contain an attachment.

Can I order both a paper and PDF copy at the same time?

Yes. After you have successfully added a recipient, select the Add Recipient button. You can choose a different delivery method for each recipient.

Can I order a transcript if I'm not able to log in?

Yes. Please see more information here: Transcript – Requesting Transcripts Without a NetID.

Can I order a transcript if I have a hold on my account?

It depends. Not all holds will prevent you from ordering transcripts. If the hold you have is preventing you from ordering your transcript, the transcript ordering system will not allow you to start the order.

What happens if I didn't authorize/open the PDF/pick up my ordered transcript?

The order will be canceled if you don’t authorize it or if your recipient doesn’t open the PDF file within 30 days of placing the order. Pickup orders will be cancelled after 14 days. If you still want an official transcript, you will need to place another order.

Can I track my order?

Yes. Sign in to your Parchment account here: https://www.parchment.com/log-in/ and select the Orders tab to check the status of your transcript order.

Will courses that I took at other universities be on this transcript?

Courses that were transferred from other schools to a UW–Madison degree program are listed on UW–Madison transcripts. Course equivalency and credits awarded are included; grades from other institutions are not.

UW–Madison does not release official transcripts from other educational institutions, even if you previously submitted them to UW–Madison.

What do I do if the transcript is wrong?

Please contact us if you received the wrong or blank transcript, or there’s an error like wrong degree, course, or grade.

If your legal name has changed since you were a student and you’d like your transcript to reflect that, complete the name change form before ordering a transcript.

Who else can request a transcript?

Third-party ordering:
In case a 3rd party has requested your transcript, you will be notified by email and asked to authorize the order. Transcripts will never be sent to anyone without you authorizing the request.

If you are ordering someone else’s transcript (e.g., you represent a college or employer who requires this information), use this ordering system. All transcripts orders require correct authorization before the order can be filled.

Parents:
Parents are not able to order your transcript by themselves. You are free to share a transcript that you ordered with them, or you can designate them as a recipient of a mailed or PDF transcript.

Deceased students’ record:
To order a transcript of a deceased student, please use the third-party order form or transcript order form, mail it to our office with an explanation of your request, and include a death certificate or newspaper obituary.

What records aren’t maintained by the UW-Madison Office of the Registrar?

Student records and transcripts for the following units/institutions aren’t maintained by UW-Madison Office of the Registrar. Please see below additional resources:

  1. Non-credit courses
    These records include non-credit courses such as:

    • Non-credit continuing education classes through UW-Madison Continuing Studies
    • Engineering Professional Development
    • iSchool Continuing Education
    • Small Business Development
    • Pharmacy Professional Development
    • UW-Madison Division of Extension (formerly known as UW-Extension)
  2. UW Extended Campus
  3. UW Colleges
  4. Other UW Schools