Milwaukee is home to eight colleges, with about 47,000 students on campus
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (19,554 students on campus) and Marquette University (10,794) are inside the city, and Medical College of Wisconsin (1,590) is 3.1 miles from the center, just over the line in Wauwatosa. About 7% of Milwaukee’s residents are enrolled in college, above Wisconsin (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Milwaukee. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
15
64,023 students on campus
Nearest college
2.6 mi
Marquette University
Residents in college
7%
Above WI (6%)
Nearest community college
2.7 mi
Milwaukee Area Technical College · $5,184 tuition
Nearest public university
4.5 mi
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · $10,398 in-state
Median household income
$54K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in Milwaukee
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What it costs
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at $48–75k, where Milwaukee’s median household income ($54,234) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Milwaukee: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee49% graduate$55k earnings*$23k typical debt
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design67% graduate$41k earnings$27k typical debt
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2); Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa (8); Herzing University-Brookfield (11); Concordia University-Wisconsin (2).
Majors
What students study in Milwaukee
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Milwaukee’s 8 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Business 19%Health professions 18%Engineering 8%Computer science 6%Visual & performing arts 5%Biology 4%Everything else 41%
Biggest programs
MarketingUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · 258 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · 252 graduates a year
$81k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralMarquette University · 221 graduates a year
$89k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · 176 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · 172 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesMarquette University · 163 graduates a year
$98k4 yrs out
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · 163 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMarquette University · 160 graduates a year
$88k4 yrs out
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Milwaukee
Is Milwaukee a college town?
No. About 7 of every 100 Milwaukee residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Wisconsin (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has 19,554 students on campus.
What colleges are in Milwaukee?
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee School of Engineering and 4 more are inside the city. Medical College of Wisconsin is 3.1 miles from the center, in Wauwatosa.
What is the closest community college to Milwaukee, and what does it cost?
Milwaukee Area Technical College in Milwaukee, 2.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,184 a year for Wisconsin residents; the federal net price, $9,112, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee cost if we live in Wisconsin?
Tuition and fees are $10,398 a year in-state and $22,398 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,329 (under $30,000 income) to $21,477 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Milwaukee. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →
Photo: Bfkenney · CC BY-SA 4.0