University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 88%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1090 and an ACT composite around 22. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,177 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee weight in admissions?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Interview
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee typically admits
The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–24. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | — |
| 50th percentile | 1090 |
| 75th percentile | — |
| % submitting SAT | % |
| 25th percentile | 18 |
| 50th percentile | 22 |
| 75th percentile | 24 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee actually cost?
Published tuition is $10,020 for in-state students and $22,020 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $10,980 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $16,177 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 30% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $10,398 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $22,398 |
| Room and board | $11,684 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $16,177 |
| Application fee | $0 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
| Regular deadline | 2025-08-01 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Wisconsin parents ask about
- University of Wisconsin-Madison43% acceptance
- Marquette University87% acceptance
- Madison Area Technical College73% acceptance
- Milwaukee Area Technical College87% acceptance
- Milwaukee School of Engineering87% acceptance
- Ripon College83% acceptance
- Lawrence University87% acceptance
- Beloit College73% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
What GPA do I need for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee typically admit?
The middle-50 ACT composite range is 18–24.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee after grants and scholarships is $16,177 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.