The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a public research university on the shore of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin's largest city. It is best known for engineering, computer science, business, architecture, nursing and freshwater science, with a large urban campus and lower costs than the Madison flagship. Choose it for an affordable research-university degree in a city with major manufacturing and healthcare employers.
Milwaukee, United States
Official website: uwm.edu
#1001
R1 — very high research activity
Home to the only graduate school of freshwater sciences in the US
Around 22,000 students
$21,000 – $26,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$12,000 – $15,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on uwm.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (Lubar College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Information Science and Technology
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 72
School of Freshwater Sciences — the only one of its kind in the US, on Milwaukee's harbour.
School of Architecture and Urban Planning — Wisconsin's only accredited architecture school.
Lubar College of Business — AACSB-accredited, with strong ties to Milwaukee's corporations.
Lakefront location in Milwaukee's East Side neighbourhood, next to Lake Park.
Graduates join Rockwell Automation, Northwestern Mutual, GE HealthCare, Harley-Davidson and Milwaukee's manufacturers.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 65,000-75,000.
Nursing graduates enter Milwaukee's hospital systems, including Froedtert and Aurora.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 104-acre main campus sits on Milwaukee's East Side a few blocks from Lake Michigan, with the Golda Meir Library and student union at its core, the engineering and business buildings nearby and residence halls along the edge.
Milwaukee is a city of about 570,000 on Lake Michigan with low rent, a big festival calendar, breweries and a lakefront. Chicago is 90 minutes by train.
Form I-20 issued by UW-Milwaukee
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by June to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and computing master's closing between 1 January and 1 June.
Undergraduates can start in fall (September), spring (January) or summer (June). Most master's programmes, including computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, the MBA and information science, admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Center for International Education issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, the MBA and information science attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 2.75-3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades when they apply by the priority date; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in engineering and the sciences and usually include a tuition waiver.
