University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

UWM freshwater sciences stood driving boat with professor during field research

Forge Your Own Path

Do innovative research, build your resume at an internship and be part of our vibrant campus community.

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A Career-Building Experience, an Affordable Degree

Get the best of both worlds: a college campus in a tree-lined neighborhood five minutes from Lake Michigan, and 10 minutes north of a bustling downtown with thousands of internships and job connections.

We are nationally recognized for our undergraduate research, and UWM students get real-world experiences that shape their education and careers, such as paid internships, entrepreneurship programs and community-based classes and volunteer opportunities. Forge your own path, your way, at UWM.

200+ Academic Programs

108graduate programs

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Female student wearing labcoat and holding pipette — No matter your major, you can perform research alongside faculty mentors and contribute to your field as early as the summer before your freshman year. Biomedical sciences major Sanya says, “One of the best reasons to do research as an undergrad is that you really get an understanding of if you like your major or not. I was sitting in a basement lab analyzing cortisol samples and having the best time. That really drove home to me that I’m pursuing the right field.”

Female student sitting at desk in front of laptop — From being an RA in a residence hall to a tutor in the Student Success Center, UWM offers plenty of paid work experiences that directly relate to students’ majors. Art major Natalie works in UWM’s University Housing office as a graphic designer.

Male student sitting at desk in in front of laptop and window — Nonprof-IT brings students together to work on project teams and get credit for providing IT solutions to nonprofit organizations. “I got really unique leadership experience,” says Kaleb, an information science and technology major. “I was basically a project manager for the whole semester.”

Nursing student wearing blue scrubs and standing over practice baby model — Prepare for a future career in health care with hospital- and clinic-based learning experiences. Nursing major Aaron says, “I’m doing my clinicals at Ascension St. Francis Hospital. I was nervous at first, but providing care to patients and seeing how what I’ve learned in class applies to real-life scenarios has given me confidence.”

Art education major sitting at table in front of paintings — Step inside a Milwaukee classroom as a student teacher for valuable teaching experience and insight. Art education major Jason says, “Going into student-teaching, I was so nervous about speaking in front of a class, and I had to keep referring back to my notes. But now I feel a lot more comfortable going with the flow and interacting with students.”

UWM engineering student standing in front of Harley-Davidson internship site — Thanks to UWM’s close proximity to and connections with Milwaukee businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, it’s common for students to get internships that lead to valuable work experience. For example, mechanical engineering student Erick did an internship at Harley-Davidson.

UWM marketing major sitting in front of haircare products she created — UWM’s Lubar Entrepreneurship Center (LEC) helps students in all disciplines develop the creativity and know-how to advance their careers. For example, before Loren graduated from UWM with a marketing degree, she worked with the LEC to launch an all-natural, organic hair care company.

Learn by Doing

A well-rounded education doesn’t come from textbooks alone. We encourage all UWM students to build on what they learn in class with real-world experiences. Our students travel to other countries, do research, land internships, create startups, teach in Milwaukee classrooms, and more. No matter what you choose to study, you can get experience in your field before graduation day and leave UWM with a valuable degree and an impressive resume.

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Your UWM Experience

UWM students at front of boat looking at Milwaukee city skyline from Lake Michigan

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300student organizations

17:1student-to-teacher ratio

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Black male UWM student wearing a yellow shirt and standing in front of the Milwaukee Art Museum — William Toney studied opera theater in the Peck School of the Arts. After graduation, he will begin working with the American Gothic Performing Arts Festival in Iowa. Then in January he will join Opera for the Young in Madison. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)

Biomedical sciences student Maria in a lab looking at a sample in a petri dish — Maria Sanchez is graduating with a degree in biomedical sciences, medical lab science. Maria has been hired at Advocate Aurora Health as a medical laboratory scientist. In that role, she will perform scientific testing on samples and report results to physicians. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)

Materials engineering student James in wheelchair sitting next to UWM engineering professor — James Veltri (right) is a materials engineering grad who has been doing research in the lab of Distinguished Professor Pradeep Rohatgi. (James is pictured here with Associate Professor Dr. Benjamin Church.) A veteran of the U.S. Navy, James has been doing schoolwork and research in the foundry at UWM. He recently accepted an offer to work in failure analysis for Lockheed Martin’s space division in Denver starting in August. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)

Architecture student Madison smiling and sitting in architecture studio — Madison Sabel is graduating with a bachelor’s in architectural studies and minor in business. Madison has been hired full-time as a designer at Ramlow/Stein Architecture + Interiors. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)

Civil engineering major Chandler wearing safety equipment at construction site — Chandler Baures, a civil engineering major, accepted a full-time position at Findorff, in the company’s Milwaukee office. Chandler has been serving as president of UWM’s Construction Leadership Council. In this position, he enjoyed helping grow interest in the construction industry among students. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)

UWM actuarial science student Jhonette standing with arms folded — Jhonette Balingit is graduating with a degree in actuarial science. Jhonette interned at Willis Towers Watson in an actuarial assisting role and was offered a full-time job as an actuarial analyst in the company’s Los Angeles office. (UWM Photo/Elora Hennessey)

Female UWM student sitting in lab with microscope and other equipment — Zahra Saeed is an engineer by training who immigrated here from Pakistan, enrolled in the professional science master’s program and took advantage of every opportunity the School of Freshwater Sciences had to offer. She did original water technology research with Marcia Silva and interned with Sweet Water, an organization that aims to restore Milwaukee watersheds. Zahra has accepted a job at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in Madison as a water data scientist. (UWM Photo/Marcelo Martinez)

UWM student Gabby wearing a Baird sweater and smiling — Gabby Majinski worked as a financial analyst intern at Baird while majoring in finance and marketing. She has accepted a full-time position at Baird, an investment firm and financial services company. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)

Hired Before Graduation

It’s not unusual for UWM students to graduate with a job in hand thanks to connections made through internships, field study placements and other practical experiences. Meet eight May 2023 graduates who have already accepted job offers — and some who have already started working.

Ready to find out how UWM could help you launch your career?

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Student working with an academic advisor — Across campus, UWM offers academic support services via the Student Success Center, the Writing Center, Pathway Advising (pictured), Accessibility Resource Center and more. Meet with committed academic advisors, one-on-one tutors and expert writing specialists.

Students in one of the multicultural centers on campus — Find community on campus with multicultural centers, such as the American Indian Student Center, Black Student Cultural Center, Roberto Hernández Center (pictured) and Southeast Asian American Student Center. UWM’s multicultural centers regularly host social and educational events on campus.

Group of three students talking in the Women's Resource Center on campus — UWM offers additional resources and community through affinity centers on campus, such as the Women’s Resource Center (pictured), LGBTQ+ Resource Center, the Military and Veterans Resource Center and Fostering Success at UWM (which provides support for students who have been fostered, homeless or orphaned).

UWM student sits across from counselor in Student Health and Wellness Center — At the Student Health and Wellness Center, students get easy access to primary health care providers. You’ll also find counseling with licensed mental health professionals, and health promotion programs designed to promote student’s health and well-being.

Student working on a laptop — Get career advising, internship opportunities, feedback on your resume and more at UWM’s Career Planning and Resource Center. Human resources major Megan (pictured) found her internship with the center’s help.

Support Services at UWM

You want your college journey to be fun, exciting and challenging. UW-Milwaukee is here to help you successfully navigate those challenges with a wide range of support services. Whether you’re looking to connect with internship opportunities, seeking an advisor who shares common ground, want help exploring major options or if you need basic medical services, you’ll find valuable support at UWM.

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Three female UWM students sitting in dorm room and studying — UWM has about 10 living learning communities (LLCs). Think of LLCs as communities within communities. Students are grouped together in the same part of a residence hall based on a shared interest, career choice or major.

Girl sitting at her desk in her Sandburg Hall room — Sandburg Hall (pictured) is the largest residence hall and the most popular choice for first-year students because it’s located in the heart of the main campus and within convenient walking distance of classes. Sandburg Hall also contains a coffee shop, cafeteria and movie theater.

Exterior view of RiverView residence hall — Two other first-year housing options are RiverView (pictured) and Cambridge Commons. Both of these residence halls are six minutes south of the main campus via a free UWM shuttle service. They’re great options for students who want a balance between independence and staying close to campus.

Two students sit in Kenilworth Square dorm room — Upper-level UWM students have another campus housing option: Kenilworth Square (pictured here). This residence hall is for third- and fourth-year students, graduate students and students 21 and older. It has an interesting history, too: Kenilworth Square was built in 1914 as a Ford Model T plant!

University Housing

UW-Milwaukee offers three university housing options for first-year students and up: Sandburg Hall, Cambridge Commons and RiverView. Upper-level UWM students have an additional campus housing option: Kenilworth Square.

All UWM residence halls have 24/7 security, fitness rooms, laundry access, utilities (including internet), regular social events and free shuttle service between the residence halls and UWM’s main campus.

View Room Tours

UWM students in summer sitting in campus common spaces and studying — UWM’s compact campus covers about four city blocks and there are plenty of scenic spots to sit and study or relax. A few popular campus hubs include the Student Union, the Golda Meir Library and the Klotsche Fitness Center.

Two UWM students tossing a beach ball on the beach — UWM is just a few blocks from Bradford Beach. It’s a popular spot for students to play volleyball and spikeball, and to soak up the sun.

Two UWM female students rollerblading with their dog with the Milwaukee city skyline behind them — UWM’s campus is only 10 minutes away from downtown Milwaukee. Students get all the benefits of going to college in a large city, from always having something fun to do on the weekend to having easy access to year-round internships.

Two UWM students riding bikes through the campus neighborhood — It’s easy to get around the campus neighborhood and beyond. Show your student ID and U-PASS card for no-charge access on any Milwaukee County Transit System bus. UWM also offers a free shuttle service between campus and the residence halls.

Four UWM hijabi students standing at Muslim Student Association table — The biggest piece of advice current UWM students share with new students? Join one of UWM’s nearly 300 student orgs! It’s easily one of the best ways to make friends and find your community.

UWM student in a bungee trampoline jump during UWM Fall Welcome — Kick off a new year at UWM with a week of fun activities, including campus cookouts, boat tours around the city, stand-up paddleboarding on the Milwaukee River and more.

UWM men's basketball player dribbling during a game at Panther Arena — UWM has 15 NCAA Division I teams, but no matter which Panthers team is your favorite, UWM students get free admission to all home regular-season athletics events with a valid UWM ID.

Student Life at UWM

UWM students describe the university as being the best of both worlds. UWM’s campus is just five minutes from Lake Michigan and nestled in a safe, tree-lined neighborhood, so students get to enjoy the classic college experience. But if you want all the conveniences, job opportunities and excitement of a major city, UWM is also 10 minutes from Milwaukee’s bustling downtown.

On campus itself, you’ll find a welcoming, inclusive student community. There are always events happening around campus and with nearly 300 student clubs to explore, you’ll be able to form strong friendships.

Learn about UWM’s campus gardens and where our fresh produce goes

11UWM alumni you should know

UWM’s Impact

As a top-tier research university, we support groundbreaking work that helps real people and real communities.

We provide scholarships so that students have fewer roadblocks to success, and we offer entrepreneurship programs to help students in all disciplines develop the creativity and know-how to advance their careers. And a degree from UWM connects you with more than 218,000 successful alumni. You’ll find them in architecture firms, film studios, hospitals, classrooms, research labs, Fortune 500 companies and more.

UWM Alumni Association UWM News

Matt Rinka (’97 BS Architectural Studies), founder and partner of RINKA, is a national architecture expert. His firm has received over 85 awards, including recognition as one of the best places to work in Milwaukee. RINKA has completed high profile projects, such as the Moderne, the Couture, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Deer District and Michels Corporation’s River 1, that have helped revitalize downtown Milwaukee.

“UWM has had a tremendous impact on my life. One of the things that impacted me most was studio life. The comradery, the extremely hard work, the late nights… It taught me grit, perseverance and those things that have allowed me to understand how to succeed in the rest of my career.”

Matt Rinka
Class of ’97
BS Architectural Studies

Learn About UWM’s Architecture Program

Main Campus

Our 104-acre main campus on Milwaukee’s east side is in a historic neighborhood just blocks from Lake Michigan. It is home to 21,931 graduate and undergraduate students.

UWM Online

UWM is home to Wisconsin’s top-ranked bachelor’s programs, as recognized by U.S. News & World Report. It offers 52 fully online degree and certificate programs.