The average acceptance rate at UWM over the past 10 years is 81.53%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 90.68%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly easier to gain admission to UWM in 2025. The acceptance rate at UWM is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 35.27%, and the 2025 yield is 23.76%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 46.16% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of UWM applicants decreased by 3.50% (583 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 83.59% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 90.68%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that UWM is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 23.76%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at UWM. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, UWM received approximately 16,079 applications, admitted 14,581 students, and enrolled 3,464 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that UWM is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
UWM 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at UWM over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 81.53%, while the most recent rate stands at 90.68%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 90.68%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 80.55% and for women is 82.29%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at UWM have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 85.78% | 83.21% | 87.87% |
| 2016-17 | 73.29% -12.50% |
70.63% -12.57% |
75.34% -12.53% |
| 2017-18 | 72.48% -0.81% |
71.74% 1.11% |
72.88% -2.46% |
| 2018-19 | 74.03% 1.55% |
74.04% 2.30% |
74.02% 1.14% |
| 2019-20 | 76.57% 2.54% |
77.58% 3.54% |
75.81% 1.79% |
| 2020-21 | 78.69% 2.12% |
79.83% 2.25% |
77.91% 2.10% |
| 2021-22 | 89.00% 10.31% |
88.00% 8.17% |
90.00% 12.10% |
| 2022-23 | 86.32% -2.69% |
85.15% -2.85% |
87.16% -2.84% |
| 2023-24 | 88.44% 2.12% |
86.09% 0.94% |
90.20% 3.03% |
| 2024-25 | 90.68% 2.24% |
89.25% 3.16% |
91.75% 1.56% |
| Average | 81.53% | 80.55% | 82.29% |
UWM has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 44.12% in 2015 to 23.76% in 2025, representing a 46.16% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 35.27%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at UWM from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 46.16% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 44.12% | 47.61% | 41.45% |
| 2016-17 | 42.58% -1.54% |
45.76% -1.84% |
40.27% -1.18% |
| 2017-18 | 43.59% 1.01% |
54.47% 8.70% |
35.33% -4.95% |
| 2018-19 | 45.75% 2.15% |
48.98% -5.49% |
43.21% 7.89% |
| 2019-20 | 43.56% -2.19% |
46.87% -2.11% |
40.97% -2.24% |
| 2020-21 | 38.45% -5.11% |
41.57% -5.30% |
36.23% -4.74% |
| 2021-22 | 25.00% -13.45% |
29.01% -12.56% |
23.00% -13.24% |
| 2022-23 | 23.02% -1.97% |
25.35% -3.66% |
21.37% -1.62% |
| 2023-24 | 22.84% -0.18% |
23.53% -1.81% |
22.35% 0.98% |
| 2024-25 | 23.76% 0.91% |
24.01% 0.48% |
23.59% 1.24% |
| Average | 35.27% | 38.72% | 32.78% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 12,732, the average number of admitted is 10,522, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 3,418.
The number of UWM applicants decreased by 3.50% (583 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 83.59% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 8,758 | 7,513 | 3,315 |
| 2016-17 | 9,991 14.08% |
7,322 -2.54% |
3,118 -5.94% |
| 2017-18 | 10,232 2.41% |
7,416 1.28% |
3,233 3.69% |
| 2018-19 | 11,879 16.10% |
8,794 18.58% |
4,023 24.44% |
| 2019-20 | 11,273 -5.10% |
8,632 -1.84% |
3,760 -6.54% |
| 2020-21 | 10,738 -4.75% |
8,450 -2.11% |
3,249 -13.59% |
| 2021-22 | 14,859 38.38% |
13,225 56.51% |
3,306 1.75% |
| 2022-23 | 16,852 13.41% |
14,546 9.99% |
3,349 1.30% |
| 2023-24 | 16,662 -1.13% |
14,736 1.31% |
3,366 0.51% |
| 2024-25 | 16,079 -3.50% |
14,581 -1.05% |
3,464 2.91% |
| Average | 12,732 | 10,522 | 3,418 |
The following table compares University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 88.44% | 90.68% | 2.53% |
| Wright State University-Main Campus | 96.33% | 95.15% | 1.24% |
| Oakland University | 87.84% | 70.24% | 25.06% |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | 88.59% | 87.84% | 0.85% |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | 76.37% | 81.39% | -6.17% |
| University of Illinois Chicago | 77.35% | 78.50% | -1.46% |
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