University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

No one embodies our fierce focus on student success more than our professors, who choose UW-Whitewater because it means they get to work directly with students in the classroom, in the laboratory — and beyond. They bring you the transformative programs designed to provide you with all the opportunities, challenges and skills you desire.

Whether they are teaching, counseling, or coaching, UW-Whitewater faculty and staff view mentorship as a major component of their role on campus. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 20:1, faculty have the opportunity to get to know their students and develop long-term relationships — especially valuable when helping them find internships and other opportunities. And professors and instructors are what you’ll find in the classroom, where they teach 100% of the classes.

In 2024, the Department of Special Education won the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award.

Visit our Why I Teach website to meet dozens of our faculty on both our Whitewater and Rock County campuses and find out why they love doing what they do.

THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE
The First-Year Experience at UW-Whitewater begins with Warhawks SOAR, the day-long summer registration program. At SOAR, new students not only register for class, but also have the opportunity to meet other new Warhawks and connect with an academic advisor. Next, students participate in Warhawk Welcome — the two-day fall orientation for new freshmen and transfer students. Warhawk Welcome helps new students settle into life at UW-Whitewater by providing opportunities for social acclimatization as well as assistance with the academic transition to college. 

More than 90 percent of new students at UW-Whitewater start their undergraduate career by taking the New Student Seminar. Designed to help students make a positive adjustment to college, New Student Seminar provides incoming students with a supportive environment for them to think about a variety of relevant topics, engage with fellow students and faculty, and attend related university events and programs. The course focuses on orienting students to the resources and opportunities available at UW-Whitewater. Through the course, students are invited to explore what it means to be a Warhawk through exposure to the university’s mission, history, and traditions. They are also encouraged to reflect on what their educational experience means to them as well as to articulate the purposes of higher education and the value of LEAP (Liberal Education America’s Promise). Importantly, the New Student Seminar helps students explore how background, identity, experiences, and social context influence their own perspectives and those of their classmates.

In order to gain the most from their first-year experience, students are encouraged to participate in a Learning Community. These communities provide an opportunity for new students to live and study with others who share similar interests. In addition to living in the same residence hall, students in a Learning Community share many of the same courses with their community members, including New Student Seminar.

“Being part of STEM Boot Camp during my freshman year was a great decision. If it were not for this program, I would not have met Dr. Anneke Lisberg or Dr. Stephen Levas — they are not just there for you during your first year; they are there for you for the rest of your college years and more! This program also introduced me to research and the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program. Because of this program, I found my love for research and have conducted research for three years at UW-Whitewater. The experience gave me amazing mentors and like-minded friends/peers and showed me the different possibilities during my time on campus and in your career.” 

– Erinn Bell, biology major from Oakbrook, Illinois, and 2024 graduate

MENTORS
Whether they are teaching, counseling, or coaching, UW-Whitewater faculty and staff view mentorship as a major component of their role on campus. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 20:1, faculty have the opportunity to get to know their students and develop long-term relationships. In order to facilitate a culture of mentoring on campus, the university supports:

• a scholar/mentor program that pairs junior faculty with experienced professors on campus.
• a peer mentor program, which connects first-year students with an experienced student leader.
• an alumni mentor program, which brings alumni and current students together in order to build informative friendships.

SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Accelerated program
Cross-registration
Distance learning
Double major
Dual enrollment
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Exchange student program (domestic)
Honors Program
Independent study
Internships
Liberal arts/career combination
Student-designed major
Study abroad
Teacher certification program
Undergraduate research

WARHAWK TRADITIONS
New first-year and transfer students are welcomed to campus with Warhawk Welcome, a two-day orientation program designed to help students ease into college, make new friends, and gain a sense of belonging. A football stadium rally introduces students to high-energy campus traditions — including a welcome tunnel made up of staff, faculty, and older students and the annual painting of Warhawk Drive a vibrant purple. 

With a championship-caliber football team, students pack Perkins Stadium for home football games. Touchdowns are heralded with the blast from a Civil War-replica cannon, a longstanding tradition, and the Warhawk Marching Band adds extra pageantry.

RESIDENCE LIFE
University Housing provides a wide range of options — 14 residence halls for the 4,000+ students for those who live on campus, including 89% of our first-time students. Each residence hall is a bit different, but they all include special programming and events, streaming services and over 100+ cable channels, pool tables, lounges and computer labs. Special living options on campus allow students to select a dorm — and lifestyle — that most closely associates them with their peers. Options include wellness, substance-free, quiet lifestyle and rainbow floors, in addition to a global village option for international students. 

Living on campus is often a hallmark of the college experience. You’ll forge life-long friendships, form lasting memories, and learn important life lessons as you navigate independent living — together — with roommates, hallmates and classmates.

Housing at the UW-Whitewater is accessible, inclusive and designed with community and convenience in mind. And our residence life team is committed to creating a welcoming, positive, safe and enjoyable residential experience.

STUDENT SPACES
Our campus contains a multitude of ways to get involved — from a beach volleyball court and a disc golf course to a prairie preserve and our award-winning Campus Garden, a student-run effort where thousands of pounds of vegetables are grown and donated to community food pantries each year. 

Young Auditorium is a 1,300-seat venue on campus that presents national and international shows — including frequent appearances by comedian Charlie Behrens — and the Greenhill Center of the Arts features an art gallery and several smaller stages for student dance and theatre productions. 

The UC is the campus hub, hosting hundreds of free events like movies, live music, trivia, comedians, game nights, and craft nights. The UC is also where you’ll find the bowling alley, billiards, gaming stations, an art gallery, and cozy fireplaces to curl up next to. And it’s where many of those hundreds of student orgs — like Latinos Unidos, AMA, Black Student Union and Greek orgs — have their home. Find out more at uww.edu/uc.

Warhawk Dining has you covered in the UC and across campus with dozens of dining concepts  — including Dunkin’ Donuts and a sushi spot — some with 24/7 access and mobile ordering. You’ll find exciting new concepts in our dining halls: the Eatery in Esker Hall will have a teaching kitchen where students can learn how to cook, and a Delicious Without station at the Perch in Drumlin Hall will provide tasty eats without the nine most common food allergens. From grabbing a cup of Starbucks or a Tappy from Erbert & Gerbert’s — their most popular sandwich, with 39,000 sold on campus in 2023 — there are so many ways to make your campus experience your own. 

Other ways to make the campus your own? You’ll find our brand-new Esports Studio in Wells Hall, and Andersen Library houses a variety of study spaces as well as the Veterans and Service Members’ Lounge.

SCHOOL LOCATION
UW-Whitewater is a residential campus in southeastern Wisconsin, an hour’s drive away from Madison and Milwaukee, and about two hours from Chicago. Thanks to its location, UW-Whitewater is able to assist students in obtaining prestigious internships and other professional development opportunities with businesses, research firms, educational organizations, and nonprofits from across the state and the region. With a population of approximately 14,000 citizens, the City of Whitewater offers a historic downtown area, many local eateries, and unique retailers. The university is also close to the Kettle Moraine State Forest — a 22,000-acre outdoor recreation area ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing.

The Rock County branch campus is located about 25 miles to the southwest in Janesville, a city of more than 64,000 people known for its hundreds of acres of parks, an active shopping and dining scene, and an award-winning botanical garden. Located just minutes from Interstate 90, UW-Whitewater at Rock County is set on 50 rolling acres adjacent to the Rock River. A free shuttle bus connects the two campuses.

“URock has a family-like community among the faculty, staff and students. That really helps students boost and grow their confidence and makes them feel like they belong at URock. It’s a supportive environment that helps us transfer successfully to a four-year college by providing essential skills for our chosen career path.”

– Maria Pacecho, who earned her associate of arts on the Rock County campus and transferred to the Whitewater campus to study international business

TIES TO THE COMMUNITY
The relationship between the university and the surrounding community is strong. Student organizations and our very active Greek community regularly participate in service learning events downtown and within the area schools. A vibrant year-round city market, held on Tuesday evenings in the summer and indoors Saturday mornings in the winter, involves the campus community in many ways, providing a source of locally grown, nutritious food. A strong relationship with Downtown Whitewater and the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce facilitate internship opportunities, as does the Innovation Center at the Whitewater University Technology Park, a university-city collaboration, and the university-run Community Engagement Center.

ATHLETICS
From NCAA Division III Warhawk athletics to our club and intramural teams, Warhawks know how to have fun competing in sports — and how to win. Our exceptional facilities are home to student-athletes of every level — from those who want to go up against the best in the nation, to students who have a passion for playing sports and want to join a pickup game.

Warhawk Athletics offers students a wide variety of athletic opportunities to complement their academic pursuits. The university supports 20 intercollegiate athletics teams that compete in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Warhawks have captured national championships in football, gymnastics, baseball, volleyball, and men’s basketball. The university is also very proud of its wheelchair basketball teams, which have won national championships several years in a row.

UW-Whitewater is known for achieving a productive balance between academics and athletics, with student-athletes boasting a higher overall GPA than the general student body. All students are also encouraged to participate in one of the 22 intramural sports and 24 club sports offered at UW-Whitewater.

The Williams Center is the heart of Warhawks Athletics and its fitness and aquatics programs, including multiple weight rooms, group fitness and cycling classes, and specialty courts for beach volleyball and disc golf, among other sports.

RESIDENCE LIFE
Percent of students living on campus.
First-time, first-year (freshman) students: 79%
Undergraduates: 44%

Campus housing options.
Coed dorms
Apartments for married students
Apartments for single students
Special housing for students with disabilities
Special housing for international students
Living-learning communities
Theme housing

CAREER SERVICES
Career Services at UW-Whitewater serves as a resource and connection point for students, alumni, employers, and faculty/staff to ensure the career success of students and graduates.

They are dedicated to empowering students to envision their career goals, explore their options, and execute their career plan through one-on-one career advising appointments and events throughout their undergraduate career. 

On average, almost 30% of all undergraduates complete career courses or meet with career counselors each year. The campus works with local and regional businesses to host several career fairs throughout the academic year. With almost 16,000 employers registered, more than 350 employers actively recruit students on the UW-Whitewater campus. 

Career Services also coordinates many internship opportunities — both on and off campus — as well as service-learning and community-based learning programs. As a result of these opportunities for professional development and personal growth, many students receive job offers before graduation. Visit our Hired Before Graduation campaign to learn more about these stellar outcomes.

SERVICE
UW-Whitewater students have hundreds of opportunities to volunteer — on campus and in the community. From the area schools and animal shelters to Fairhaven Senior Services and VITA tax clinic for low-income taxpayers, you can get involved. Make a Difference Day is the university’s largest student-based service event held annually in April.

UW-Whitewater supports community-based learning and service-learning through a variety of initiatives. In addition to the Learning Communities’ annual day of service each fall, the Program for Community-Based Learning coordinates year-round partnership opportunities between the university and the community. 

ALUMNI MENTOR PROGRAM
Our 100,000+ alumni are encouraged to give back to their alma mater through the university’s Alumni Mentor Program. This program connects current students with alumni who can provide the kinds of guidance and friendship that help foster professional success. This program allows UW-Whitewater students to gain access to the valuable advice and professional networks fostered by alumni. And, of course, it also provides alumni with the opportunity to contribute continually to the mission of UW-Whitewater.

Admission

ADMISSIONS REVIEW
The UW-Whitewater Admissions Office completes a comprehensive review of all applications it receives. Admissions decisions are made based on a variety of factors, including standardized testing results and the academic rigor of high school courses completed. Submitting standardized testing scores is optional at the time of application. 

Admissions officers are also looking for students who demonstrate an upward trend in their high school grades over time as well as extracurricular involvement, service and leadership, and work experience — much of which is highlighted in an applicant’s personal statement. UW–Whitewater participates in Direct Admit Wisconsin, and accepts the University of Wisconsin Online Application and the Common App. While not required for admission, prospective students are always welcome to visit campus.

ADMISSIONS FACTORS
Very Important
Academic GPA

Important
Rigor of secondary school record

Considered
Class rank | Standardized test scores | Application Essay | Recommendation(s)
Extracurricular activities | Talent/ability | Character/personal qualities | First generation
Alumni/ae relation | Volunteer work | Work experience | Level of applicant’s interest

TEST SCORES
Optional

FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Composite
25th Percentile: 920 | 75th Percentile: 1130
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 470 | 75th Percentile: 570
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 460 | 75th Percentile: 570
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 18 | 75th Percentile: 24
ACT Math
25th Percentile: 17 | 75th Percentile: 25
ACT English
25th Percentile: 16 | 75th Percentile: 24
ACT Science
25th Percentile: 19 | 75th Percentile: 24
ACT Reading
25th Percentile: 18 | 75th Percentile: 25

Tuition & Cost

Tuition (in-state): $8,616
Tuition (out-of-state)*: $18,716
Room: $4,860
Board: $3,118

*  Tuition for residents of Minnesota: $10,031

Aid

WHAT’S INCLUDED
In order to minimize costs and streamline access to educational materials, UW-Whitewater participates in a textbook rental system that covers 95% of all textbook needs. The cost of that program, which saves the average first-year student about $2,000, is included in the tuition and fees you pay, as are the following student fitness memberships, regular season sports events, printing, laundry, and many campus events, like movies. 

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AID
UW-Whitewater offers need-based financial aid to all qualifying new students who complete the FAFSA form. Those who have submitted applications by January 1st of their senior year of high school are automatically considered for both need- and non-need-based scholarships; however, new students who apply after this deadline are also considered for scholarships upon request (and if funds are still available). Merit-based scholarships are competitive and awarded to applicants with the strongest academic credentials. Importantly, the UW-Whitewater Foundation further supports students’ educational progress with more than $2.5 million annually through more than 200 scholarships.