UWM acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Public · Milwaukee, WI · 18,047 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
UWM admitted 88.4% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 86.1% in 2013. Wisconsin residents pay $10,916 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $23,515.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 86.1% | 8,944 | 7,699 |
| 2014 | 89.6% | 8,067 | 7,224 |
| 2015 | 85.8% | 8,758 | 7,513 |
| 2016 | 73.3% | 9,991 | 7,322 |
| 2017 | 72.5% | 10,232 | 7,416 |
| 2018 | 74.0% | 11,879 | 8,794 |
| 2019 | 76.6% | 11,273 | 8,632 |
| 2020 | 78.7% | 10,738 | 8,450 |
| 2021 | 89.0% | 14,859 | 13,218 |
| 2022 | 86.3% | 16,852 | 14,546 |
| 2023 | 88.4% | 16,662 | 14,736 |
Applications went from 8,944 in fall 2013 to 16,662 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $12,204 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,765 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $13,484 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $18,724 |
| Over $110,000 | $22,449 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $10,916 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $23,515 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $24,000 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $15,625 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores, 68% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| UW-Madison WI | 43.3% | $12,166 in-state |
| UTSA TX | 88.5% | $9,019 in-state |
| App State NC | 88.6% | $7,642 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
UWM received 16,662 applications for fall 2023 and made offers to 88.4% of applicants.1 The 2013 figure was 86.1%, so the net change is a rise of only 2.3 percentage points.1 The rate went lower in 4 of the 10 yearly changes and bottomed at 72.5% in 2017.1 Applications grew 86% from 2013 to 2023, and admissions grew 91%, ending at 14,736.1 Since 2020 applications have grown 55%, and admitted students have grown 74%.1
Scores are optional, and only ACT results are listed: the middle 50% of composites ran from 18 to 24 in 2023, from 68% of entrants.1
In-state tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $10,916 and out-of-state charges are $23,515.2 Wisconsin's 13 public bachelor's colleges have a median in-state price of $9,436, which is lower than the UWM price.2 In 2024-25 the average net price was $12,204 for the lowest band, $0 to $30,000, and $22,449 for families above $110,000.2
A total of 50% of 2019 entrants graduated within 6 years, versus a state median of 61% across 33 bachelor's colleges.2 Retention into the next fall stood at 73% for fall 2023 entrants.2 Graduates earned a median of $59,268 at 10 years after entry, and borrowers who finished held median debt of $21,875.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 16,662 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 14,736 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 3,366 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 18,047 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 18 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 24 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | Not reported | Not reported |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 68% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $10,916 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $23,515 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $24,000 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $15,625 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $12,204 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,765 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $13,484 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $18,724 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $22,449 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 50% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 73% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 39% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $59,268 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $21,875 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Wisconsin (N = 13) | $9,436 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Wisconsin (N = 33) | 61% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with UWM, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page