College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

UWM Graduation Rate & Retention Rates

14% 4-Year Graduation Rate
45% 6-Year Graduation Rate
75% Retention Rate

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee 2023 Graduation & Retention Report

Make an informed decision about your education by understanding UWM retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.

UWM Retention Rate

75% Freshmen Retention Rate
Good Retention Rate

The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.

With 75% students making it past their freshmen year, UWM has freshmen retention rates above the national average.

Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.

When looking at just colleges and universities in Wisconsin, the average is 74.47%.

UWM Retention  75 out of 100
0%
100%
Wisconsin Retention  74 out of 100
0%
100%
undefined
Retention Rate
UWM75%
Nationwide70.57%
Wisconsin74.47%

UWM Graduation Rates

45% 6-Year Graduation Rate
29.45% Transfer Rate
20.59% Dropout Rate

How many of the estimated 2,930 students in the class of 2015 completed their degree within eight years?

After four years 14% of the cohort graduated. After six years 45% had completed their degree, and 49% after eight years.

Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical UWM graduation rate 45%.

The average UWM student takes 4.74 years to graduate with their bachelors.

Four Year Graduation Rate  24%
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  45%
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  49%
0%
100%

UWM Graduation Rates vs. National Average

undefined

undefined

Completion WithinUndergraduatesPercentage
Four Years1,57024%
Six Years2,93045%
Eight Years2244%
Did Not Complete3,34151%
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Request More Info About University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Request More Info About University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee >

UWM Drop Out Rate

Approximately 3341 students or 51% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.

What happened to the 3341 students who did not complete their degree?

undefined
Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled551.6%
Transferred191357.3%
Dropped Out1,33740.0%

UWM Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity

undefined
Race/EthnicityGraduation Rate
American Indian or Alaskan Native35%
Asian40%
Black / African-American24%
Hawaiian100%
Hispanic40%
International55%
Multi-Ethnic39%
Unknown100%
White50%

Some Students Take More Time To Graduate

First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.

Traditional Students:

First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.

Non-Traditional Students:

Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.

The majority of students at UWM are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.

Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.

First-Time / Full-Time UWM Graduation Rates

59% First-Time, Full-Time
41% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / full-time students at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee represent 59% of the students in the class of 2015, and 53.92% of UWM bachelor's degree graduations.

With a four-year graduation rate of 14%, first-time students in the UWM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After six years, the UWM graduation rate was 41%, and by the eight year mark, 45% of the cohort had completed their degree.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.

Four Year Graduation Rate  14 out of 100
0%
100%
Six Year Graduation Rate  41 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  45 out of 100
0%
100%

UWM First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

undefined
First-Time / Full-Time CompletionsUWMNationwide
Four Years14%37.92%
Six Years41%46.43%
Eight Years45%47.82%

First-Time / Full-Time UWM Drop Out Rates

2093 first-time / full-time students or 55% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

undefined
First-Time / Full-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled552.63%
Transferred127761.01%
Dropped Out74635.64%

First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

2% First-Time, Part-Time
21% 6-Year Grad Rate
Low Grad Rate

First-time / part-time students at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee represent 1.80% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six-year graduation rate of 21%, first-time, part-time students in the UWM class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were less likely than average to graduate on time.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 23%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  21 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  23 out of 100
0%
100%

First-Time / Part-Time UWM Graduation Rates vs. National Average

undefined
First-Time / Part-Time CompletionsUWMNationwide
Four Years4%14.37%
Six Years21%21.59%
Eight Years23%23.72%

First-Time / Part-Time UWM Drop Out Rates

90 first-time / part-time students or 77% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

undefined
First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled22.22%
Transferred3943.33%
Dropped Out4954.44%

Non First-Time / Full-Time Students

30% Returning, Full-Time
56% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

1975 UWM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 30.41% of the students in the class of 2015.

Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.

With a six year graduation rate of 56%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 58%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  56 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  58 out of 100
0%
100%

UWM Non First-Time / Full-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

undefined
Returning / Full-Time CompletionsUWMNationwide
Four Years0%49.57%
Six Years56%53.83%
Eight Years58%55.07%

Non First-Time / Full-Time UWM Drop Out Rates

831 non first-time / part-time students or 42% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

undefined
First-Time / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled91.08%
Transferred46355.72%
Dropped Out35943.20%

Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rates

9% Returning, Part-Time
40% 6-Year Grad Rate
Good Grad Rate

567 UWM students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 8.73% of the students in the class of 2015.

With a six year graduation rate of 40%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.

After eight years, the graduation rate was 42%.

Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.

Six Year Graduation Rate  40 out of 100
0%
100%
Eight Year Graduation Rate  42 out of 100
0%
100%

UWM Non First-Time / Part-Time Graduation Rate vs. National Average

undefined
Returning / Part-Time CompletionsUWMNationwide
Four Years0%30.46%
Six Years40%36.03%
Eight Years42%37.80%

Non First-Time / Part-Time UWM Drop Out Rates

327 non first-time / part-time students or 58% did not complete their degree within eight years.

Of those who did not finish:

undefined
Returning / Part-Time Non-CompletionsUndergraduatesPercentage
Still Enrolled103.06%
Transferred13440.98%
Dropped Out18355.96%

More Resources:

References

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options