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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Admission at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is close to open (90.7%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $54,990 median earnings below before the application.
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee sits in Milwaukee proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $95,849 four years out. 32.8% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 16,758 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 73% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Put your own practice estimate on University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's range with the ACT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee received 16,662 applications and admitted 14,736 (88.4%), with 3,366 enrolling.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is test-optional — scores count when submitted, none required. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's submitters' middle half scored 18–24 on the ACT; read that as the stronger-tester end of the admitted class.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee compares
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Wisconsin median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 90.7% | 81.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,398 | $33,396 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $54,990 | $55,452 | $53,781 |
At $54,990, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($55,452). Look at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $10,398 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $22,398. For non-residents, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's $22,398 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a big school: 16,758 undergraduates at last count.
49.3% graduate within six years. Roughly 51% don't — ask a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $95,849 |
| Computer Science | $92,342 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $91,955 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,405 |
| Industrial Engineering | $82,763 |
| Materials Engineering | $82,131 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $81,067 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $78,127 |
| Civil Engineering | $77,958 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $76,422 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $75,055 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $73,346 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $72,507 |
| Mathematics | $70,656 |
| Information Science/Studies | $70,639 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $69,673 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $67,192 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $66,668 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $65,400 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $64,492 |
| Economics | $64,454 |
| Marketing | $64,173 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $63,838 |
| Architecture | $62,803 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $62,343 |
| Chemistry | $61,089 |
| Philosophy | $59,370 |
| Biology, General | $58,804 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,223 |
| Geography and Cartography | $57,604 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $57,596 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,697 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $54,462 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $53,974 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $53,901 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $53,793 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $53,006 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $52,659 |
| Psychology, General | $52,328 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $52,142 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $51,713 |
| Political Science and Government | $51,320 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $51,181 |
| Social Work | $50,392 |
| Sociology | $49,486 |
| Education, General | $49,228 |
| History | $48,442 |
| Anthropology | $47,811 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $47,574 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | $46,822 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $46,712 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,788 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $44,776 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $44,232 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $42,435 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $39,452 |
| Music | $37,616 |
| Dance | $29,695 |
Median earnings for these 58 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $54,990 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 31 additional University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
The middle 50% of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's submitters earned ACT composites of 18–24; no GPA cutoff is published.
What is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's acceptance rate?
88.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 14,736 admitted from 16,662 applicants.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee cost?
In-state tuition is $10,398; out-of-state students pay $22,398. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $54,990 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville — 89.4% admitted
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point — 91.8% admitted
- University of Wisconsin-Superior — 93% admitted
- University of Wisconsin-Stout — 87.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.