University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It enrolls 9,405 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes54
Value83
Affordability54
Selectivity25
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 85.7%, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
85.7%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Wisconsin-Whitewater isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,158 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,158
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
46%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,616
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,716
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,090
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,380
Books & Supplies
$300
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,210
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,210
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,719
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,440
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,752
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,176
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,551
Over $110,000
$18,229
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,25010%percentile
$7,63225%percentile
$23,188Medianpercentile
$27,87375%percentile
$34,05990%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,629
↓ $6,559
No Pell $15,348
↓ $7,840
Dependent students $16,750
↓ $6,438
Independent students $13,856
↓ $9,332
Female students $17,145
↓ $6,043
Male students $15,250
↓ $7,938
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($23,188), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
64% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
64%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Wisconsin-Whitewater earn a median of $55,356 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,356
Earning > $25K
85%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is home to 9,405 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
9,405
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
30%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 78.0%7,333
Hispanic 9.9%930
Black 5.4%504
Other 3.0%285
Asian 1.9%175
International 0.4%36
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantWhitewater, Wisconsin
Housing
Mostly residential4,168 beds on campus
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
85 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,075
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$38M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,379
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
462 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
105
23%
$90,424
Associate Professors
156
34%
$85,945
Assistant Professors
79
17%
$80,086
Lecturers
122
26%
$61,348
Pros & Cons of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Wisconsin-Whitewater tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater hard to get into?
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 85.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater?
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has an acceptance rate of 85.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater scored between 17 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Wisconsin-Whitewater cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is $14,158 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,356 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,158 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater known for?
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is best known for its programs in Business, Finance, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are $55,356, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater accredited?
Yes. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of Wisconsin-Whitewater?
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater enrolls 9,405 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater?
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduates 64% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater a public or private college?
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a Public institution.
Where is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater located?
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
What programs does University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offer?
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offers 85 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Finance, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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