College of Engineering & Applied Science
The College of Engineering & Applied Science is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s largest and most diverse city, which is on Lake Michigan and 90 minutes north of Chicago. Six Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the Milwaukee metro area, joining more than 600 other companies that recruit at UWM.
General
- UWM is ranked in the top 3.1% of universities worldwide (Center for World University Rankings)
- Milwaukee is a best destination in the world to travel to (National Geographic), to live in (U.S. News and World Report), and to visit (Trip Advisor). Milwaukee has also been hailed as having one of the 15 best skylines in the world (Architectural Digest).
Research
UWM and the College of Engineering & Applied Science are known for cross-college collaboration and interdisciplinary research. UWM is one of Wisconsin’s two R1 Research Universities, named by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The college was responsible for $6 million in externally funded research in FY2024.
Research focus areas:
- Biomedical & Health (rehabilitation and mobility, medical imaging, removing airborne pathogens)
- Energy & Sustainability (electrochemical energy storage, electrical power & control, batteries & microgrids)
- Water & the Environment (removing PFAS and other contaminants through filters, adsorbents, sensors)
- Advanced Manufacturing (embedded systems, digital twin manufacturing, robotic controls, VR)
- Transportation and Infrastructure (safety, advanced materials, cybersecurity, EVs)
Academics
UWM is one of only two public universities in Wisconsin offering engineering degrees through the doctoral level.
Departments
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
- Materials Science & Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Students
- 2,000 students, including 450 graduate students (master’s and PhD)
- 82% of graduates remain in the Midwest*
Diversity
UWM and the College of Engineering & Applied Science are committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse student body.
- UWM is proud to have the largest veteran student population in Wisconsin.
- First-generation students comprise 33% of the students in our college.
- The college’s share of female students nearly doubled over the last ten years to 22%.
Faculty and Staff
- 90+ PhD faculty and teaching staff
- 7 dedicated academic advisors
- 1 dedicated career services advisor
Alumni
The college has a strong alumni network of 13,000+. You’ll find the majority of our alumni in Wisconsin, Illinois or California; however, our alumni span all states in the U.S. and 56 countries. Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella (’90 MS Computer Science), earned his degree here. Microsoft has donated more than $2 million to UWM.
Career Launch *
- $78,000 average starting salary.
- 97% of students launch their careers or continue their education within six months of graduation.
- Students often earn more than $8,000 in full-time, work-related internships in summer.
- Some of the places our students have landed: Amazon • Apple • Briggs & Stratton • Eaton • FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles • FIS • GE Healthcare • Generac • GRAEF • Harley-Davidson • Intel • Johnson Controls • Kohler Company • Microsoft • Milwaukee Tool • Modine Manufacturing • Molson Coors • Northwestern Mutual • Raytheon Missile Systems • Rockwell Automation • Tesla • We Energies • Wisconsin Department of Transportation
*Source: UWM First Destination Survey, 2021-23; as voluntarily reported by graduating undergraduate and graduate students.