Understanding UWM Tuition Costs: A Comprehensive Breakdown

The Universities of Wisconsin system, comprised of 13 universities, plays a vital role in the state's education, economy, and communities. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is a key institution within this system, offering a wide range of academic programs and opportunities. Understanding the cost of attending UWM is crucial for prospective students and their families. This article provides a detailed breakdown of UWM tuition costs, financial aid options, and other related expenses.

The Cost of Attendance: A Starting Point

Knowing what a school costs is the first step in managing college costs. The "Cost of Attendance" is the total amount of money the average student has to pay, without any financial aid, to attend a particular school. Think of it as a school’s sticker price.

The Cost of Attendance breakdown for UWM differs depending on whether you’re an in-state or out-of-state student. For the academic year, in-state tuition at UWM for undergraduate students residing in Wisconsin is approximately $8,455. Out-of-state undergraduate tuition is significantly higher, around $20,455.

Breaking Down the Costs: Tuition, Fees, and Living Expenses

Beyond tuition, several other expenses contribute to the overall cost of attending UWM. These include mandatory fees, room and board, books and supplies, and personal expenses.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition: As mentioned above, tuition rates vary based on residency status.
Mandatory/Segregated Fees: The segregated fee is a part of the total amount paid to the University by students taking credit classes. All students pay additional fees, including the Segregated Fee. All international students pay the International Student Fee. The segregated fee supports various student services and activities. Students carrying less than eight credits during the fall and spring semesters (six credits during the summer semester) pay a pro-rated fee. The amount to be assessed is determined in part by the Student Association and in part by the Chancellor. These funds are earmarked for the support of certain student services.
Special Course Fees, Distance Education Fees, and Differential Tuition: The amounts listed on the fee schedules do not include any special course fees, distance education fees, or differential tuition that will be in addition to normal tuition.

Room and Board

On-campus room and board is provided by the school at a cost of approximately $10,980 per academic year. This covers housing and meal plans for students living in university residence halls.

Books and Supplies

Students should also budget for books and supplies, which typically amount to $800 annually.

Other Expenses

In addition to the above costs, students should also factor in other expenses such as transportation, personal items, and entertainment. UWM advises out-of-state students to budget around $3,600 for these expenses.

Living Off-Campus

Many students opt to share apartments in the historic neighborhood surrounding UWM’s campus in Milwaukee after their freshman year. Overall, the cost of living in Milwaukee is less than the national average. The city’s housing is particularly affordable. In general, you can estimate the cost of housing at $6,379 and budget $4,190 for meals.

Understanding Financial Aid Options

The Cost of Attendance listed above might be intimidating. Fortunately, a variety of financial aid options are available to help students offset the cost of attending UWM.

Grants and Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are better than loans because students don’t ever have to pay them back. It’s also important to know how much grant aid people tend to receive. Grants can be given out by the federal government, your state, or the college and are based on your financial need. Scholarships are awarded based on your your financial need or academic achievements. They do not need to be repaid but you may have to reapply for them each year.

Read also: UMN Cost of Attendance

Need-Based Grants: 75% of UWM students receive financial aid, with an average award of $9,496 last year. Financial aid is usually a combination of loans and need-based grants, but UWM also has scholarships available.
Merit Scholarships: UWM has a scholarship program for newly admitted international undergraduate degree-seeking students. Scholarship award decisions are based on academic merit. Last school year, the university awarded $20.4 million in scholarships to 5,639 students. Scholarships for international students are awarded on a monthly basis. Newly admitted students will be notified of their awards as soon as decisions are made, and scholarships are awarded until all money is fully allocated. To ensure full consideration for an award, students should be admitted by May 1 for the fall intake, and by October 1 for the spring intake. We also strongly encourage all admitted international students to explore the UWM Scholarship Portal and apply for any other scholarships they believe they meet the eligibility requirements for.
Pell Grants: The average Pell Grant awarded was $5,113. To apply for a Pell Grant to attend University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, the first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Student Loans

Student loans are sums of money given to students to help them pay for college now. You must pay this money back later with interest.

Federal Student Loans: At University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 68% of all students take out federal loans. At University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, the average annual federal loan amount is $5617.
Private Loans: At University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 10% of students take out private loans. The average private loan amount at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $10310.

Work-Study Programs

Most of our students also work while in school. UWM hires about 3,000 student workers each year and many more students find jobs off campus.

Graduate Student Funding

Graduate students have the opportunity for tuition remission via assistantships: teaching assistants, project assistants, program assistants and research assistants, and other funding opportunities. Funding for graduate students is awarded directly from the academic program.

Net Price: A More Realistic Estimate

The average reported annual net price for University of Wisconsin Milwaukee for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $16,499 in 2019/2020. The net price provides a more realistic estimate of the true cost of attending University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, once common grants and scholarships have been taken into account. It's important to note that your net price will fluctuate based on factors such as family income, assets and individual financial need.

Paying for College: Strategies and Considerations

Planning for expenses is an important part of the college application process. By learning more about expenses and aid, you’re already on the right path to managing college costs.

Figure out whether your family can afford to pay University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee tuition and costs. Once again, the Net Price is the total cost of attending, minus the aid you can expect to get (grants and scholarships). The US government has come up with a standardized way to calculate how much a typical family can afford to pay without help. As an example, a family that brings home $80,000 in income before taxes, with no assets and no other children in college, has an EFC of around $7,000. Colleges use this number as a guideline to decide how much aid to give you, but it's just a guideline. So we're going to calculate your EFC and compare it to University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee's Net Price. If the Net Price is higher than the EFC, the school will cost more than you can typically afford. This tool will calculate your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. In order to calculate this amount, we need just 4 pieces of information from you. According to the information you’ve entered above, your Expected Family Contribution should be about $. This is the amount that the federal government thinks you can afford to pay for school. Please note this tool is only an approximation, and your personal situation may cause your EFC to vary.

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UWM's Value Proposition: Education and Opportunities

UWM has “the best of both worlds.” It’s a large university with many course offerings in a major city with restaurants, arts organizations and sports teams. At the same time, UWM’s compact campus fosters a tight-knit community in which students make close friendships.

Career Prospects

Our recent graduation survey shows that most UWM students have a job lined up or are working before graduation. For most students, UWM plays a key role in finding and obtaining their first job. More than 2,800 companies recruit at UWM each year for internships and permanent jobs. In many cases, UWM students’ first jobs start as internships, and companies offer them permanent positions upon graduation.

Campus Life and Support

We encourage students to take advantage of campus facilities, such as University Recreation, which offers fitness classes and intramural sports. Student Involvement includes hundreds of student organizations, leadership programs and the Campus Activities Board. Or, your student may choose a Living Learning Community, where students sharing similar interests live and take classes together.

Going to college can bring new challenges, as well as opportunities. Your student will have support at UWM from skilled advisors and peer mentors, and access to free tutoring. UWM is located in one of Milwaukee’s safest neighborhoods, the upper east side. Nonetheless, we take campus safety seriously. The university has its own police department with more than 35 officers working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Student Health and Wellness Center is open year-round and provides a wide array of medical services. University Counseling Services provides mental health care, and wellness events are held regularly on campus.

Location Advantages

Here you get the best of both worlds - a thriving urban center combined with an affordable, friendly, small-town atmosphere.

Minnesota-Wisconsin Reciprocity

The Minnesota-Wisconsin Tuition Reciprocity agreement allows residents of Minnesota attending Wisconsin Institutions to receive a special rate.

Assessments/Refunds for Reduction of Credit Load

Percentage assessments are established by the University of Wisconsin System. The UWM Interactive Add/Drop Calendar allows you to view the deadlines for adding, dropping, or withdrawing from classes.

UPASS

A UPASS is a semester/ summer long pass for unlimited free use of local area commuter bus service.

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