University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Graduation Rate
- 50% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,990 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $15,014 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 91% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $22.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,315,767.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 35% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $22.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #501-600
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 14/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Matters
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a public research university in Milwaukee, WI ranked #501-600 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 16,758
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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
Accessible — admits about 91% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $15,014 a year after grants and scholarships — 12% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,990 ten years after enrolling — 35% above the typical college, against $23,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.49 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 16,758 students and an acceptance rate of 91%, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a great option for those seeking a welcoming environment. It’s particularly well-suited for students interested in programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Visual & Performing Arts, Education, and Psychology. Those fields stand out for their potential to provide engaging career paths and practical experiences.
Graduates from UW-Milwaukee can expect to earn around $54,990 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure reflects a solid foundation for many, especially considering that about 33% of students receive Pell Grants, which helps make education more accessible. Though the graduation rate sits at 50%, it’s essential to recognize that many students still find success and move into promising careers after their time at the school.
When it comes to the financial side of things, the average net price after aid is about $15,014, and the median debt upon graduation stands at $23,000. This balance suggests that students can manage their education without overwhelming financial strain, making it a feasible choice for many. Those who thrive here often appreciate a supportive community and a variety of academic programs that cater to diverse interests and career aspirations.
Rankings
- #13 Best Computer Science Colleges in Wisconsin
- #13 Best Data Science Colleges in Wisconsin
- #15 Best Communications Colleges in Wisconsin
- #21 Best Nursing Colleges in Wisconsin
- #23 Most Affordable Colleges in Wisconsin
- #26 Best Business Colleges in Wisconsin
- #26 Best Education Colleges in Wisconsin
- #27 Best Psychology Colleges in Wisconsin
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 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 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- SAT Average
- 1090
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- ACT Range
- 18–25
- Full-Time Faculty
- 64%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,960
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.63
- First-Gen Students
- 33%
- Applicants
- 16,852
- Admitted
- 14,546
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 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is $22,398, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,014. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,329 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,398
- Out-of-State
- $22,398
- Avg Net Price
- $15,014
- Median Debt
- $23,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,329
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,709
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,344
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,477
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee earn a median of $54,990, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,851
- 8 Years
- $50,789
- 10 Years
- $54,990
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.42x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (698)
- 21%
- 100% (698)
- 21%
- 100% (698)
- 21%
- 100% (698)
- 21%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,014/year ($60,056 total). Graduates earn $54,990 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,375,823 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,315,767 (22.9× your investment). The median debt is $23,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $60,056
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,375,823
- Net Return
- $1,315,767
- ROI Multiple
- 22.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,014
- Median Debt
- $23,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 14/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 46/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 29/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-995,778
Top Programs
The fields University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 20% $61,913 early-career
- Health Professions 12% $72,303 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $68,909 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 7% $45,495 early-career
- Psychology 6% $35,498 early-career
- Engineering 6% $86,123 early-career
- Education 5% $52,235 early-career
- Humanities 4% $32,189 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is $22,398, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,014. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,329 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.
Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee earn a median of $54,990, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at #501-600 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 14/100, teaching at 17/100, and citation impact of 46/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
- Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VA · Close peer45% grad $54,914 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX · Close peer55% grad $54,211 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Utah State UniversityLogan, UT · Close peer58% grad $54,022 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV · Close peer63% grad $55,939 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GA · Close peer53% grad $53,236 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · Close peer62% grad $55,146 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note