The Universities of Wisconsin released a financial assessment report for UW-Milwaukee along with 11 other universities on Sept. 6, hoping to address the long term financial impacts of declining enrollment, subpar retention rates and the shockwave from a tuition rate freeze.
The report, conducted by Deloitte, showed the number of enrolled students at UWM and its branch campuses at Waukesha and Washington counties has decreased by nearly 8,000 students between 2011 and 2023, representing a decline of roughly 29%.
The assessment outlined the issues UWM has with its retention rate, the percent of enrolled students that stay with the institution after one year. In Fall 2021 and 2022, UWM lagged behind system averages by about 3%, presenting another challenge for the university to financially sustain itself from tuition…