MSOE: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Milwaukee School of Engineering · Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 5,020
- Applicants
- 3,369
- Admitted67%
- 744
- Enrolled
- 22%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective67% admittedRanked #2 in Regional Universities Midwest; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #10 (tie), Computer Science #193 (tie), Nursing #243 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Milwaukee School of Engineering (see the source), read on 2026-09-24.
Is MSOE a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places MSOE against it in about a minute. No account needed.
MSOE is a private nonprofit university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that admits about 67% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $22,453 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 63% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 17.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
MSOE is a private institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, MSOE admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 67%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1310 and an ACT composite around 27. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,453 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for MSOE?
50% of enrolled students at MSOE had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.68, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare MSOE with the other schools on your list
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What does MSOE weight in admissions?
MSOE reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
Considered
2- Standardized test scores
- Character/personal qualities
Not Considered
12- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores MSOE typically admits
A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1205 |
| 50th percentile | 1310 |
| 75th percentile | 1375 |
| % submitting SAT | 11% |
| 25th percentile | 24 |
| 50th percentile | 27.5 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | 20% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional; MSOE may ask for scores (if available) after reviewing coursework.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on MSOE's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does MSOE actually cost?
Published tuition is $50,480 for in-state students and $50,480 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,984 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,453 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 24% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $49,930 |
| Room and board | $14,474 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $22,453 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 90% |
| Average need-based grant | $44,271 |
| Average merit award, no financial need169 first-year students received one | $27,565 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 69% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $32,706 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for MSOE
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from MSOE?
These predict outcomes at MSOE better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at MSOE
The most popular undergraduate programs at MSOE, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. Across all programs, MSOE confers roughly 457 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Mechanical Engineering program report a median income of about $87,507 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 134 | $87,507 |
| Computer Engineering | 73 | $99,744 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 73 | $87,003 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 66 | $78,832 |
| Computer Science | 35 | n/a |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 29 | $85,180 |
| Architectural Engineering | 24 | $88,204 |
| Civil Engineering | 23 | n/a |
Is MSOE safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), MSOE disclosed 47 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 17.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 13 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at MSOE?
About 52% of undergraduates at MSOE live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Wisconsin parents ask about
- Ripon College80% acceptance
- Lawrence University64% acceptance
- Beloit College63% acceptance
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse76% acceptance
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay89% acceptance
- University of Wisconsin-Madison45% acceptance
- Marquette University81% acceptance
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee91% acceptance
Next steps for MSOE
Common questions parents ask about MSOE
What GPA do I need for MSOE?
50% of enrolled students at MSOE had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.68, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does MSOE typically admit?
MSOE does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does MSOE actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at MSOE after grants and scholarships is $22,453 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $50,480. Budget against the net figure.
Is MSOE realistic for my child?
MSOE admits 67% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $22,453 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at MSOE?
MSOE accepts about 67% of applicants out of roughly 5,020 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is MSOE test-optional?
Yes. MSOE is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at MSOE?
About 63% of students at MSOE graduate within six years, and 50% finish in four years. 86% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does MSOE look for in applicants?
MSOE rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is MSOE a public or private school, and where is it located?
MSOE is a private nonprofit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What are the most popular majors at MSOE?
The largest undergraduate majors at MSOE by annual graduates are Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. The school awards about 457 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is MSOE safe? What is its campus crime rate?
MSOE reported 47 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 17.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at MSOE?
At MSOE, 52% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Milwaukee School of Engineering, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers