University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a public university in Wisconsin, reports a 91% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.
Use this page to see what University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee weighs, where it ranks among Wisconsin schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1210, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
What do students study at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
Your odds at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are not the same as its 91% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hard to get into?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 91% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1210. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Your chances at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a 3.1 GPA and a 1150 SAT?
About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1150 SAT, the middle of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1210 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee.
How to get into University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Built from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
There is no formula that guarantees a spot at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee carries about a 3.00 core GPA and a 1160 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at uwm.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and how many get in?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee admitted 14,736 of the 16,662 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 88.4%. 3,366 enrolled. Only about 23% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee enrolls about 16,758 undergraduates in total, 56% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 18 to 25. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee looks for
What University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
The factors that carry the most weight at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee cost after financial aid?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $22,756 per year. Tuition and fees are $10,398 for WI residents and $22,398 for out-of-state students, a $12,000 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,014 a year, and it ranges from $10,329 for families earning under $30,000 to $21,477 for families earning over $110,000. 33% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student who received federal aid earns $54,990 a year, up from $45,851 at six years. 49% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 73% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $23,000; 42% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee compares in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ranks #22 most selective of 23 schools in Wisconsin in our database.
Among the 23 Wisconsin schools we track, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ranks #22 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Wisconsin (45%) and Mount Mary University (62%) sit nearby, which makes Wisconsin a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Applicants targeting University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee often weigh Cal State Fullerton, Cleveland State University, and Eastern Washington University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's acceptance rate?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee admitted 14,736 of 16,662 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 88.4% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 23% of admitted students enrolled.
Is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee test-optional?
Yes. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $15,014 a year against a sticker price of about $22,756. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $10,329 on average.
What do University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are $54,990 a year among students who received federal aid, and 49% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee specifically.
What are the admission requirements for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee?
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.