Understanding the UW-Milwaukee GPA Requirements for Admission and Academic Standing

For prospective students and current enrollees at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), understanding the GPA requirements is crucial for both admission and maintaining good academic standing. This article provides a detailed overview of UWM's GPA policies, encompassing admissions criteria, academic progress, and degree completion.

GPA and Admission to UW-Milwaukee

When considering admission to the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, there are several critical factors, including GPA, SAT scores, and acceptance rate. While UWM has a nearly open admissions policy, with an acceptance rate of 95.3%, understanding the GPA expectations is still important.

Average GPA of Admitted Students

The average GPA at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is 3.2. While UWM accepts below-average students, a GPA of 3.2 or higher will make you a more competitive candidate. The GPA distribution of admitted students is as follows:

3.75+: 15.8%
3.50-3.74: 14.7%
3.25-3.49: 16.6%
3.00-3.24: 15.4%
2.50-2.99: 23.6%
2.00-2.49: 12.5%
Below 2.00: At least 1.4%

Holistic Review

It is important to note that your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.

Test-Optional Policy

UW System institutions, including UWM, are not requiring applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores as part of the application process this year. UWM will consider applicants for admission with or without one of these standardized test scores. On the application, students can indicate whether or not they intend to send an ACT or SAT score to be reviewed with their application.

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Academic Performance as a Key Factor

Your academic performance in the classroom is the most important factor in the review of your application. We carefully consider the pattern and rigor of your high school coursework, class rank (if available), overall GPA and grades in specific courses related to your intended major at UWM. If you choose to submit test scores, performance on the ACT or SAT is only one factor considered in the admission process. In addition to your composite score, we also consider your sub-scores in the area(s) (English, math, reading, science) that closely relate to your intended major at UWM.

Additional Factors in Admission

Beyond academic records and test scores, UWM considers student experiences, work experience, leadership qualities, motivation, community service, special talents, etc.

GPA Requirements for Graduation

All bachelor’s degree programs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have specific requirements that include GPA standards.

Minimum GPA Requirement

Students must attain at least a 2.000 cumulative GPA to graduate. This means that the average of all grades received in UWM courses must be at least a C.

Residence Credit Requirement

At minimum, 30 of the 120 credits earned for the bachelor’s degree must be completed “in residence", that is, via credits earned from the institution itself regardless of class modality.

Total Credits Requirement

Student must complete at least 120 credits.

Earning Multiple Bachelor's Degrees

Students may earn more than one bachelor’s degree by completing the graduation requirements for both degrees, including a major appropriate to each degree. The two bachelor’s degrees earned must have different degree designations (i.e., BA, BBA, BFA, BS, and BSE). In meeting degree requirements, the student must complete an additional 30 credits in residence for the second degree (for a minimum of 150 credits). The same General Education Requirements may be used to satisfy both degree requirements if appropriate. Schools and colleges may make exceptions to the above policy.

Students who have earned a first bachelor’s degree from UW-Milwaukee may earn a second, distinct bachelor’s degree by completing a minimum of 30 additional undergraduate credits in residence subsequent to the awarding of the first degree and by satisfying all major requirements for the second degree.

Students with a bachelor’s degree from any other accredited institution who wish to subsequently earn a bachelor’s degree from UW-Milwaukee must complete a minimum of 30 additional undergraduate credits in residence at UW-Milwaukee. Transfer students must complete the requirements of the UW-Milwaukee major and have a minimum of 150 earned degree credits in total between the two degrees.

All students earning two bachelor’s degrees need to apply and be admitted to the school/college for both degrees. They will also apply separately for graduation for each degree and pay separate graduation fees for each degree.

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Understanding GPA Calculation at UWM

It’s important to understand how UWM calculates your GPA, as this determines your academic standing and eligibility for graduation.

UWM's Grading System

UWM uses a letter grade system that includes "plus" and "minus" grades and is based on a 4.000 scale. For convenience in computing averages, each letter grade carries a specified number of points per credit.

How GPA is Calculated

The number of grade points earned in a course is computed by multiplying the points for the grade by the number of credits offered for the course. The general quality of a student's work is expressed in terms of the grade point average (GPA). This is the total number of grade points earned divided by the total number of GPA credits. The UWM grade point average recorded on your official transcript is based solely upon credits earned or attempted at UWM on a regular graded basis. Even though you may receive credits for coursework taken elsewhere, such transfer credits are not counted as part of the GPA at UWM.

GPA Recalculation

If you are returning to UWM and have not previously earned your undergraduate degree, your cumulative GPA will continue from your last point of enrollment. If you have previously earned your undergraduate degree, you should apply as a "Second Degree" student.

Repeating Courses

Unless a restriction is stated in the Schedule of Classes, undergraduates may repeat a course only once, and only the higher of the two grades will be calculated into the grade point average (GPA). Both attempts will appear on the student's transcript. Only two attempts are allowed for the same or equivalent course at and across any undergraduate career level (associate, bachelors, and Flex programs) before permission is needed for the third attempt. If the UWM course repeats a course for which the student received transfer credit, only the UWM course will be calculated into the GPA, regardless of grade. Both attempts will be shown on the transcript.

Once a bachelor's degree has been earned, the academic career (credits, GPA, and coursework) starts over with any subsequent enrollment and the original record cannot be altered. A student will not be permitted to repeat any course more than once without the prior approval of the student's school/college advising office.

If you have previously earned your degree from UWM, your attempted and earned credits as well as your cumulative GPA will start over with the courses you take in pursuit of your second degree. Courses taken as part of your first degree will not be considered repeats.

Credit/No Credit Option

To be granted credit for a course for which you have registered credit/no credit (C/NC), you must earn a grade of C- or better. Consult the table below to determine whether you may enroll for courses on a credit/no credit basis.

Undergraduates in The Arts may take one course per semester as credit/no credit up to a maximum of eight courses. Core curriculum courses outside of the student’s major subject area qualify.

Undergraduates in the Lubar College of Business may take one course per semester as credit/no credit up to a maximum of eight courses. No Business course may be taken on a C/NC basis unless it is only offered on a C/NC basis.

Undergraduates in Engineering and Applied Science may take no more than 3 credits in any one semester as credit/no credit up to a maximum of 12 credits. Credit/no credit is not allowed for Honors courses.

Undergraduate majors and pre-majors in Social Work and Criminal Justice and Criminology may take one course per semester as credit/no credit up to a maximum of eight courses. Credit/no credit may only be used in courses outside the 54-65 credit requirements in the Social Work or Criminal Justice and Criminology major.

Some courses are offered on a C/NC basis only. These may be taken in addition to the above limits. C/NC courses are not counted in the GPA, but courses in which credit is earned will count toward graduation.

Academic Standing and GPA

Maintaining a satisfactory GPA is essential for remaining in good academic standing at UWM. Failure to do so can lead to academic warning or separation.

Academic Warning

Status imposed on students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.000.

Final Academic Warning

Applies to a student who is permitted to enroll after any academic warning status. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.000 is placed in academic warning status. A student in academic warning status, whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.000, but whose semester GPA is 2.000 or above, remains in academic warning status. A student in academic warning status, earning a semester GPA below 2.000, is placed in academic separation status for one semester. Students in academic warning status may continue to enroll and attend UWM courses in consultation with their assigned academic advisor.

Academic Separation

Students in academic separation are restricted from enrolling in UWM courses for the specified duration, barring a successful appeal for early reinstatement. A student in academic separation status may appeal to be reinstated immediately after an academic separation action. A student may apply for readmission after sitting out the required separation period.

A student in final academic warning status, who fails to achieve a semester GPA of 2.000 or better, is placed in academic separation status for two years. A student in final academic warning status, whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.000, but whose semester GPA is 2.000 or above, remains in final academic warning status.

Reinstatement After Academic Drop

Students who are academically dropped from UWM and who have sat out the required period of time should make an appointment to discuss their situation with their academic advisor. Students returning after an academic drop need to apply for re-entry. Students who have not sat out the required period of time can file an appeal to request reinstatement. Appeals will only be considered if significant and extenuating non-academic reasons can be presented. Students may be asked to provide verifiable documentation of medical- related or other circumstances.

Academic Renewal

To be eligible for a bachelor's degree, students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at UW-Milwaukee after the granting of academic renewal. A notation in the remarks area of the student’s transcript indicates academic renewal. All grades earned in courses that were taken during the Academic Renewal Period will be excluded from the student’s cumulative GPA.

Additional Grading Information

Incomplete Grades

An incomplete may be given to an undergraduate who has carried a subject successfully until near the end of the semester but, because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause beyond that student's control, has been unable to take or complete the final examination or to complete some limited amount of term work. A course marked incomplete must be completed during the next succeeding semester, excluding summer sessions and UWinterim. If the student does not remove the incomplete during this period, the report of “I” will lapse to “F”.

With approval of the instructor, additional time may be granted through a request to the instructor for an Extended Incomplete (“EI”), including cases where the “I” lapsed to “F”. The determination to assign an “EI” grade is at the sole discretion of the instructor or, if an instructor cannot be contacted, the department chair. Incomplete (“I”) or Extended Incomplete (“EI”) courses may not be used to satisfy degree requirements. Incomplete (“I”) or Extended Incomplete (“EI”) courses will be converted to Permanent Incomplete (“PI”) prior to degree posting if not required for graduation. The PI does not change the impact of the “F” grade on the student’s record.

Dean’s Honor List

Letters and Science students who earn a semester grade point average of 3.75 or higher on at least 12 graded credits will be placed on the Dean’s Honor list.

Resources for Improving GPA

Repeating a Course

The fastest way to raise a GPA is to repeat a course. When the exact same course is re-taken at the exact same place it was orginally taken, the higher grade replaces the lower grade and only the higher grade is calculated in the GPA. However, both grades are used when a course is repeated at two different colleges (e.g. at MATC and at UWM). A higher grade on the repeat will help raise a GPA but not as quickly since the original grade is still present in the student’s record and it continues to pull down the GPA. Most classes can only be repeated once.

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