University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: A Comprehensive Look at Student Demographics and Enrollment Statistics

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) stands as a prominent public urban research university, playing a vital role in the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin. As the largest university in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and one of the two doctorate-granting research universities within the University of Wisconsin System, UWM is committed to providing accessible education and fostering a diverse and inclusive campus environment. This article delves into various aspects of UWM's student population, including enrollment trends, demographics, costs, admissions, and academic outcomes.

Enrollment Overview

In Fall 2025, UWM welcomed 3,871 new freshmen, marking an 11% increase over the previous year and the highest freshman enrollment since 2009. Overall enrollment now stands at 22,613. This growth reflects UWM's commitment to creating a welcoming, student-centered environment.

In 2023, the total enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was 22,481 students. The full-time enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is 17,508 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,973. This means that 77.9% of students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are enrolled full-time.

Recent Enrollment Trends

UWM has experienced fluctuations in enrollment figures. While the university is proud to announce a significant increase in first-year student enrollment for Fall 2025, welcoming 3,871 new freshmen, an 11% rise over last year and the highest freshman enrollment since 2009, it is not immune to national challenges such as declining high school graduation rates and reduced international enrollment.

Geographic Diversity

UWM attracts students from across the United States and around the world. According to College Factual's diversity report, 13.79% of UWM students come from out of state, and 1.8% come from out of the country. The undergraduate student body represents 24 states (may include Washington D.C.).

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Student Age Diversity

UWM demonstrates a strong ability to attract students of all ages, with a student age diversity score of 80.39 out of 100.

Demographics and Diversity

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive campus community. The enrolled student population at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, both undergraduate and graduate, is 58.8% White, 13.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Black or African American, 7.01% Asian, 4.26% Two or More Races, 0.418% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0934% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Race and Ethnicity

The racial and ethnic composition of the student body reflects UWM's commitment to diversity. Students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (34.1%), followed by White Male (28.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (8.4%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (33.8%), followed by White Male (17%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.5%).

Gender Diversity

In 2023, 6,063 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 59% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 41% awarded men.

Costs and Financial Aid

UWM is committed to providing accessible and affordable education to its students.

Tuition Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is $8,455, which is $−22,549 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

Average Net Price

In 2023 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee had an average net price - the price paid after factoring in grants and loans - of $16,499. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee grew by 0.314%.

Other Student Expenses

The average yearly cost of room and board at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was of $10,896 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 1.53% between 2022 and 2023. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $800. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

Financial Aid

UWM offers various financial aid options to help students finance their education. In 2023, 62% of undergraduate students attending University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 44% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans. In 2024, UWM awarded $28 million in scholarships, an 8% increase from the previous year.

Student Loan Default Rate

In 2022 the default rate for borrower's at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 5361 total borrowers.

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Admissions

UWM has a test-optional admissions policy.

Acceptance Rate

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee received 16,662 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 1.13% annual growth. Out of those 16,662 applicants, 14,736 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 88.4% acceptance rate. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has an overall enrollment yield of 22.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was 88.4% (14,736 admissions from 16,662 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 86.3%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 1.13%, while admissions grew by 1.31%.

SAT Scores

0% of enrolled first-time students at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Academic Outcomes

UWM is dedicated to providing quality education and fostering student success.

Retention Rate

The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was 72%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee had a retention rate lower than its peers.

Graduation Rate

In 2023, 23% of students graduating from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 47% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 51% within 200%.

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (66.7% graduation rate).

Degrees Awarded

In 2023, 6,063 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (4,086 degrees), 6.33 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (645 degrees).

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was General Marketing & Marketing Management with 258 degrees awarded.

In 2023, 1,091 more women than men received degrees from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Specialized Majors

In 2023, the most specialized majors across all degree types at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Library Science (140 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (171 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (53 degrees).

Campus Life and Resources

UWM offers a vibrant campus life with numerous resources and opportunities for students.

Student Organizations

There are over 300 student organizations on campus. The governing body is the Student Association of UWM, which under Wisconsin's "shared governance" system (statute 36.09(5)) interacts with the university administration and the student body to insure students rights and interests. UWM is home to a number of Greek organizations, including six IFC Council fraternities and three Panhellenic Council sororities, along with seven Multicultural Greek Council, and six National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations.

Housing

Sandburg Halls is the largest student residence hall on campus. It is a four-tower complex with a capacity of 2,700 students, arranged in three- and four-room suites. The North, South, and West towers were built in 1970, with the East tower opening in 2000. RiverView Residence Hall, opened to first year students in 2008, is located several blocks west of Kenilworth Square and has a capacity of 470 students. Cambridge Commons is the newest residence hall project, which opened in 2010 and houses 700 residents.

Library

The Joseph J. Golda Meir Library is the university's main library. The 379,000 square foot library has more than 5.2 million cataloged items, many of which are available electronically through electronic reserve, web-based online catalog, searchable databases and indexes. The building was first constructed in 1967 and then expanded with the addition of the East Wing in 1974 and conference center in 1982.

Athletics

A total of 15 Panthers athletic teams compete at the NCAA level for Milwaukee in the ten-member Horizon League, which it joined for the 1994 season.

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