University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Public · 90.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scores 59 and lands in the Below Average Value tier - solid public-university outcomes on cost but dragged by a low completion rate. In-state tuition is $10,398 (out-of-state $22,398), net price is $15,014, and total four-year cost is about $60,056. Median earnings six years after entry are $38,500, climbing to $54,990 by year ten, producing a 33.3% earnings premium (sub-score 73) and a payback period of 10 years (sub-score 61). Median debt is $23,000 with a 0.597 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 52). The 77.0% three-year repayment rate (sub-score 61) is healthy. The drag is the 49.3% completion rate (sub-score 37), which reflects UWM's commuter-heavy, working-student profile - many students are part-time and the standard four-year cohort metric understates eventual completion. UWM's strength sits in engineering, computer science, nursing, and business pipelines, where outcomes earn solid B and B+ grades. The school also carries a long tail of arts and humanities programs (film, theatre, music, languages) producing D and F grades, but the in-state tuition keeps the downside contained.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,398/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,398/yr |
| Average net price | $15,014/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $60,056 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,990 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 10 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 16,758 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $10,398/year ($22,398/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,014/year, or roughly $60,056 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,329/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,477/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $23,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $54,990 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.60, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,329 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,709 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,344 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,315 |
| $110,001+ | $21,477 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $10,329 net per year (about $41,316 over four years). That is genuinely affordable and is achievable with Pell plus state aid. The school serves this band well at a 33% Pell rate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-110,000) pay $12,344-$19,315 net per year. The jump between the $48,001-75,000 bracket ($12,344) and the $75,001-110,000 bracket ($19,315) is sharp - aid drops off most meaningfully in this range. Four-year cost runs $49,000-$77,000. The math works comfortably against $38,500 six-year earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $21,477 per year ($85,908 over four years). At this price, in-state Wisconsin families are typically comparing UWM to UW-Madison; out-of-state families face the $22,398 tuition number and should compare against home-state alternatives.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | $64,173 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $81,067 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $69,673 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,697 | C |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $73,346 | C+ |
| Education, General | $49,228 | D |
| Psychology | $52,328 | D |
| Information Science | $70,639 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,223 | C |
| Biology | $58,804 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Marketing
Marketing is the largest program at 258 graduates with $45,966 first-year and $64,173 four-year earnings. Debt of $26,000 and debt-to-earnings of 0.566 yield a C grade. Solid mid-pack outcome but the modest first-year earnings reflect the highly competitive Milwaukee marketing labor market.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the second-largest program at 252 graduates with $70,900 first-year and $81,067 four-year earnings. Debt is $27,000 and debt-to-earnings is 0.381 for a B grade. Strong outcomes anchored by Milwaukee's hospital systems (Aurora, Froedtert, Children's Wisconsin); this program drives much of the school's value proposition.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates 176 students with $52,744 first-year and $69,673 four-year earnings. Debt of $26,276 and debt-to-earnings of 0.498 yield a C+ grade. Solid corporate-finance pipeline into Milwaukee's banking and insurance employers (Northwestern Mutual is a major hirer).
Communication and Media Studies
Communication and Media Studies graduates 172 students with $38,040 first-year and $55,697 four-year earnings. Debt is $26,000 and debt-to-earnings is 0.683 for a C grade. Modest outcomes typical of comm programs; the four-year growth is decent.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
Clinical/Medical Laboratory graduates 163 students with $62,966 first-year and $73,346 four-year earnings. Debt of $30,500 and debt-to-earnings of 0.484 yield a C+ grade. Strong allied-health outcomes feeding directly into Milwaukee's hospital lab systems.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.7% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-25 |
| Enrollment | 16,758 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,960 |
UWM admits 90.7% of applicants with an ACT composite mid-range of 18-25 (SAT mid-ranges not reported). This is open-access by the numbers and consistent with the urban-public mission. The combination of a 91% admit rate with a 49% completion rate is the standard commuter-school pattern: external life pressures (work, family, transportation) drive much of the attrition rather than academic preparation. The actual on-time completion rate likely understates eventual graduation given the part-time enrollment mix.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UWM's peer set (UW-Whitewater, UW-Eau Claire, Sam Houston State, Appalachian State, East Carolina) is well-chosen. UW-Whitewater is the closest in-state comp, typically with higher completion at similar cost. UW-Eau Claire is more selective with stronger outcomes. The out-of-state comps (Sam Houston, App State, ECU) are similar regional flagship publics. UWM's 59 score is mid-pack and primarily limited by completion rate; its earnings outcomes are competitive.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (this school) | 59 | $15,014 | $54,990 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
| East Carolina University | 61 | $15,739 | $55,146 |
| Appalachian State University | 58 | $16,836 | $51,836 |
| Sam Houston State University | 58 | $16,404 | $54,211 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is large at 16,758 with a 32.8% Pell rate - a meaningfully working-class urban student body in Milwaukee. UWM works strongly for in-state Wisconsin students entering its engineering (especially industrial and computer), nursing (252 graduates, a major pipeline), computer science, business, and allied health programs. It works less well for students drawn to the arts and humanities at full freight; the long tail of D/F program grades reflects real labor-market constraints for those credentials.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $15,014 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,990 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 49.3% graduation rate.
Median debt of $23,000 against $54,990 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.