University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want a large campus community. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 16,758 students.
About This School
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with approximately 16,758 undergraduate students enrolled. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 91%. The average net price after financial aid is $15,014 per year. The graduation rate is 49%, and the typical graduate earns $48,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee is a public urban research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It is the largest university in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and one of two doctorate-granting research universities in the University of Wisconsin System. As of 2023, UW–Milwaukee had an enrollment of about 23,000 students, including 18,500 undergraduates and 4,500 postgraduates.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at $16,177/year net cost and only $15,250 in median debt at graduation, this school is genuinely affordable, and a $48,200 median salary 10 years out is a reasonable return for an urban public university. The real concern is the 51% graduation rate — meaning roughly half of students who start here don't finish — which warrants a serious conversation about what support structures you'll need to stay on track. Worth considering if you're cost-conscious, interested in staying in the Milwaukee area, or drawn to specific programs in business, nursing, or engineering, but go in with a clear plan.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 11% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduates earn most above the national rate in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($72,507 vs $68,257 nationally), and most below it in Information Science/Studies ($70,639 vs $85,294).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 258 | $64,173 | $69,303 | −$5,130 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 252 | $81,067 | $88,910 | −$7,843 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 176 | $69,673 | $83,343 | −$13,670 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 172 | $55,697 | $56,359 | −$662 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 163 | $73,346 | $75,975 | −$2,629 |
| Education, General | 127 | $49,228 | $49,808 | −$580 |
| Psychology, General | 126 | $52,328 | $50,706 | +$1,622 |
| Information Science/Studies | 123 | $70,639 | $85,294 | −$14,655 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 119 | $58,223 | $55,378 | +$2,845 |
| Biology, General | 107 | $58,804 | $57,214 | +$1,590 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 105 | $72,507 | $68,257 | +$4,250 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 101 | $44,232 | $43,765 | +$467 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (16,758 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Wisconsin
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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
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University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI · Public
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI · Public
See How Colleges Compare
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has an acceptance rate of 91%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hard to get into?
Not especially. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has an acceptance rate of 91%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee cost?
The average net price at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is about $15,014 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has a graduation rate of 49%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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