UW-Milwaukee: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-optional
- 15,059
- Applicants
- 14,624
- Admitted97%
- 3,505
- Enrolled
- 24%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access97% admittedRanked #288 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #128 (tie), Business Programs #116 (tie), Computer Science #155 (tie), Nursing #94 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (see the source), read on 2026-06-15.
Is UW-Milwaukee a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UW-Milwaukee against it in about a minute. No account needed.
UW-Milwaukee is a public university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that admits about 97% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $15,014 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Marketing, Psychology, General and Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UW-Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For the most recent reporting cycle, UW-Milwaukee admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 97%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1090 and an ACT composite around 22. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,014 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for UW-Milwaukee?
59% of enrolled students at UW-Milwaukee had a high school GPA of 3.00 or above, and the average was 3.07, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
Compare UW-Milwaukee with the other schools on your list
Open UW-Milwaukee in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does UW-Milwaukee weight in admissions?
UW-Milwaukee reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
1- Application essay
Considered
9- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
6- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores UW-Milwaukee typically admits
The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–25. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1090 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| % submitting SAT | % |
| 25th percentile | 18 |
| 50th percentile | 22 |
| 75th percentile | 25 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional. UW Regents extended the ACT/SAT suspension through 2027-28; permanent waiver proposed Sept 2026.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UW-Milwaukee's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does UW-Milwaukee actually cost?
Published tuition is $10,398 for in-state students and $22,398 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $11,684 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $15,014 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 33% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $10,398 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $22,398 |
| Room and board | $11,684 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $15,014 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 47% |
| Average need-based grant | $8,387 |
| Average merit award, no financial need673 first-year students received one | $1,277 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 64% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $33,783 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $0 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UW-Milwaukee
| Regular deadline | 2025-08-01 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from UW-Milwaukee?
These predict outcomes at UW-Milwaukee better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UW-Milwaukee
The most popular undergraduate programs at UW-Milwaukee, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Marketing, Psychology, General and Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. Across all programs, UW-Milwaukee confers roughly 1,760 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Marketing program report a median income of about $64,448 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 299 | $64,448 |
| Psychology, General | 278 | $50,559 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 244 | $77,482 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 223 | $65,224 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 213 | $51,174 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 173 | $68,982 |
| Information Science/Studies | 168 | $71,313 |
| Education, General | 162 | $47,785 |
Is UW-Milwaukee safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UW-Milwaukee disclosed 33 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 17 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UW-Milwaukee?
About 19% of undergraduates at UW-Milwaukee live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. 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
- Milwaukee School of Engineering59% acceptance
- 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
Next steps for UW-Milwaukee
Common questions parents ask about UW-Milwaukee
What GPA do I need for UW-Milwaukee?
59% of enrolled students at UW-Milwaukee had a high school GPA of 3.00 or above, and the average was 3.07, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UW-Milwaukee typically admit?
The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–25.
How much does UW-Milwaukee actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UW-Milwaukee after grants and scholarships is $15,014 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $10,398 and $22,398 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UW-Milwaukee realistic for my child?
UW-Milwaukee admits 97% of applicants, so 18–25 ACT is target range and below 18 is a reach. Then check the $15,014 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UW-Milwaukee?
UW-Milwaukee accepts about 97% of applicants out of roughly 15,059 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is UW-Milwaukee test-optional?
Yes. UW-Milwaukee 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 does UW-Milwaukee look for in applicants?
UW-Milwaukee rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UW-Milwaukee a public or private school, and where is it located?
UW-Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What are the most popular majors at UW-Milwaukee?
The largest undergraduate majors at UW-Milwaukee by annual graduates are Marketing, Psychology, General and Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. The school awards about 1,760 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UW-Milwaukee safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UW-Milwaukee reported 33 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.0 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 UW-Milwaukee?
At UW-Milwaukee, 19% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers