Milwaukee School of Engineering
#1 Best Colleges in WisconsinBottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 24.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.4 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in Wisconsin.
Every $1 spent returns $24.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,102,740.
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What The Data Says
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduates earn 118% more than the national college median.
Inventor rate in the top 5% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
Every $1 invested returns $24.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
Why Milwaukee School of Engineering Matters
Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private university in Milwaukee, WI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,654
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Engineering, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Milwaukee School of Engineering
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 59% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,453 a year after grants and scholarships — 31% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $89,070 ten years after enrolling — 118% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 32% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.71 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Milwaukee School of Engineering is a solid choice for students interested in hands-on learning and careers in technical fields. With an enrollment of about 2,654, this school fits individuals who thrive in a close-knit environment and prefer a practical approach to education. Students here can dive into programs like Engineering, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science & IT, all of which prepare them for in-demand careers.
After graduation, students from this school can expect to earn an average of $89,070 within ten years. That’s a significant figure, showcasing the return on investment for those who choose this path. The affordability aspect is also worth noting; with a net price of $22,453, it allows many to manage their educational expenses while pursuing their goals. While 24% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to accessibility, the overall outcomes suggest that graduates tend to find their footing in the workforce.
When we look at the practical details, the median debt of $27,000 is manageable, especially considering the earning potential after graduation. Students who tend to thrive here are often those with a passion for STEM fields and a hands-on learning style. If that sounds like you, Milwaukee School of Engineering could be a great fit to launch your career.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Milwaukee School of Engineering is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Milwaukee School of Engineering? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Milwaukee School of Engineering, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 59%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 27. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 69%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Milwaukee School of Engineering? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Milwaukee School of Engineering, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $50,480 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,453 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,607 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Milwaukee School of Engineering Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Milwaukee School of Engineering earn a median of $89,070 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Milwaukee Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Milwaukee School of Engineering Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Milwaukee School of Engineering delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,453/year ($89,812 total). Graduates earn $89,070 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,192,552 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,102,740 (24.4× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 69% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Milwaukee School of Engineering Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Milwaukee School of Engineering is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.88%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 50.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Milwaukee School of Engineering produces inventors at an exceptional rate — the top 5% of U.S. colleges, with 122 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Milwaukee School of Engineering awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Milwaukee School of Engineering's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Milwaukee School of Engineering? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Milwaukee School of Engineering, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 59%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 27. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 69%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Milwaukee School of Engineering? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Milwaukee School of Engineering, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $50,480 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,453 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,607 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
Is Milwaukee School of Engineering Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Milwaukee School of Engineering earn a median of $89,070 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Does Milwaukee School of Engineering Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Milwaukee School of Engineering is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.88%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower — only about 3.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 50.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,700, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Milwaukee School of Engineering? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Milwaukee School of Engineering, with an economic connectedness score of 1.71 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Milwaukee School of Engineering? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Milwaukee School of Engineering, with an economic connectedness score of 1.71 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note