Despite 20% International Drop, UWM Sees Highest Enrollment in 17 Years
Enrollment across Universities of Wisconsin campuses down for the first time in five years
UWM. Photo by Dave Reid.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has its highest enrollment in 17 years, with first year student enrollment up nearly 1 percent and transfer enrollment up 4.5 percent.
As of Sept. 8, overall enrollment at UWM is at 22,662 students.
Chancellor Thomas Gibson credits the increase to the university’s student body to partnerships with Milwaukee Area Technical College and Milwaukee Public Schools and dual enrollment, a program that allows high school students to get college credits.
Gibson says UWM is also unique in that it offers students a chance to attend an affordable university that is an R1 research campus.
“We’re seeing more and more students that are coming to UWM because of this opportunity and the experiential learning opportunities we afford,” Gibson said.
This enrollment increase at UWM has occurred despite the university losing 20 percent of its international student body, who were mostly graduate students, Gibson said.
According to the university’s website, UWM has 1,020 international students from 83 countries.
“We are continuing to work to sustain and grow that population,” Gibson said. “We’re not giving up on the hope that the university continues to be a global university.”
Overall enrollment across the Universities of Wisconsin declined for the first time in five years this fall, largely because of the loss of international students.
The UW system reported 163,260 students this fall, a decline of 1,732 students from fall 2025.
This fall, the state is seeing 1,100 fewer students from other countries.
System interim president Renee Wachter said that R1 universities like UWM and UW-Madison are seeing the greatest challenges from the decline in international enrollment.
UW-Madison’s current enrollment is 50,500, which is 981 students fewer than last year.
UW-Madison would not release many how many international students they have this year.
Wachter confirmed graduate programs are seeing the largest decrease in enrollment.
“We’re certainly seeing it in the graduate space, so students that would be seeking that extra degree, that PhD or graduate level degree,” Wacheter said. “Although there’s been some decline in the undergraduate population as well.”
UW-Milwaukee sees highest enrollment in nearly 2 decades despite 20 percent drop in international students was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
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