Admit rate has ranged 60%–67% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is a tightly focused, no-nonsense technical university where hands-on learning and industry connections trump ivy-covered tradition. With a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, direct admission to majors, and a staggering 96-99% career outcomes rate, MSOE delivers a pragmatic education that lands graduates in jobs—fast. Its downtown Milwaukee location offers urban perks, though the social scene skews more toward engineering project teams than Greek life.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,654
In-state tuition
$50,480
Out-of-state tuition
$50,480
Acceptance Rate
62%
Graduation Rate
72%
Avg Starting Salary
$75,532
Career Outcomes Rate
96-99%
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
Students Receiving Aid
97%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$89,070
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
4.0×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
67%
First-year retention
84%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
83%
Pell (lower-income) share
42%
First-generation share
24%
Endowment / student
$34,038
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$74,200
Computer Engineering$72,857
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$68,316
Architectural Engineering$67,420
Industrial Engineering$66,653
Mechanical Engineering$66,062
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
12
Per 1,000 students
4.52
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
92
Summer high
79°F
Winter low
20°F
Annual rain
38.3"
Annual snow
38.1"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
81
Scholarly works
1,970
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.9%
Bottom → top quintile
50%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Milwaukee School of Engineering?
Milwaukee School of Engineering's acceptance rate is approximately 59% (Milwaukee, WI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Milwaukee School of Engineering cost?
At Milwaukee School of Engineering, the average net price (after aid) is about $22,453 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Milwaukee School of Engineering?
Milwaukee School of Engineering enrolls approximately 2,654 undergraduate students.
Where is Milwaukee School of Engineering located?
Milwaukee School of Engineering is located in Milwaukee, WI.
Admissions
MSOE maintains a moderately selective admissions process with a 62% acceptance rate, making it accessible but not a safety school for most STEM-focused applicants. The middle 50% of admitted students boast SAT scores between 1180–1340 and ACT scores of 25–31, with an average GPA hovering around 3.75. Notably, MSOE is test-optional, allowing applicants to forgo SAT/ACT submissions—a boon for strong GPA holders with weaker test scores. The school accepts early admission applications from high school students and welcomes transfers, though its urban focus means most students enroll directly from high school. International and undocumented students (including DACA recipients) are eligible to apply, provided they meet academic benchmarks.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Construction Management$63,005
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$60,030
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics
MSOE’s academic identity is laser-focused on undergraduate engineering, business, and nursing, with 16 majors across 8 departments—all designed to meet ABET accreditation standards. The 12:1 student-faculty ratio ensures close mentorship, and 45.8% of classes have fewer than 20 students, fostering a collaborative, lab-heavy environment. Unlike universities where students languish in general ed, MSOE admits students directly into their majors, letting them dive into disciplines like Civil Engineering (which blends technical rigor with business and policy coursework) from day one. Graduate programs exist but play second fiddle to the undergrad experience. Reddit commentators and alumni praise the faculty’s industry expertise, though the workload is notoriously intense—this isn’t a school for the academically casual.
Life at MSOE balances 100+ student organizations—from cultural clubs to outdoor recreation groups—with a work-hard ethos that limits traditional party culture. The downtown Milwaukee location provides easy access to the city’s breweries, festivals, and Lake Michigan, but Niche reviews hint at a social scene that’s quieter than Big Ten schools, with more bonding over robotics competitions than keg stands. Housing is split 50/50 between on-campus (mostly freshmen) and off-campus options, and Instagram highlights from @msoe_engage show events like hackathons and professional networking mixers dominating the calendar. Don’t expect a sprawling Greek system or D1 sports; the vibe is closer to a tight-knit tech incubator than a rah-rah college.
MSOE’s 96-99% career outcomes rate (employed or in grad school within six months of graduation) is its crown jewel, backed by an average starting salary of $75,532 for recent grads. The school’s 72% graduation rate outpaces many regional peers, and LinkedIn posts tout near-perfect placement thanks to aggressive employer partnerships and biannual career fairs. Unlike liberal arts colleges where outcomes vary wildly by major, MSOE’s focus on in-demand technical fields ensures consistently high ROI—especially in engineering and nursing. The Career Connections Center reports that companies like Rockwell Automation and GE Healthcare routinely scoop up graduates, often before they walk the stage.
With a sticker price north of $50,000, MSOE isn’t cheap, but 97% of students receive financial aid, bringing the average net cost down to $26,122. The school awards generous merit scholarships (average grant: $19,168) and Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements., though 75% of students still take out loans. The Early Financial Aid Estimator tool helps families project costs upfront, and the FAFSA is a must for unlocking institutional aid. Compared to flagship public universities, MSOE’s price tag is steep, but the near-guaranteed job placement softens the blow for debt-averse families.
MSOE’s superpower is its ruthless focus on employability. Unlike universities that treat career prep as an afterthought, every element—from the industry-savvy faculty to the downtown location (a hop from Fortune 500 employers)—is engineered to fast-track graduates into jobs. The 12:1 ratio means no hiding in lecture halls, and ABET-accredited programs ensure degrees meet employer standards. It’s not for everyone: Those craving a liberal arts quad or big-time sports will bristle at the no-frills, STEM-centric culture. But for students who want to build things, solve problems, and land a paycheck by graduation, MSOE delivers like few others.
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