College Enrollment Rates are Dropping as College Debt Rates are Rising

Both national and local rates for college enrollment have plummeted as student loan debt has increased, especially here at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Of the three University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee campuses, the Milwaukee campus has experienced a 3.8% decline in enrollment, the Washington campus has experienced a 18.7% decline, and the Waukesha 12.8%. This has had a major effect on the university budget. This decline has affected the university by over $7 million.

Although the university is $7 million short of what is expected by tuition, a fundraising event that happened earlier in this semester raised over $250 million which can help benefit the school where the budget slacks and the changes are needed.

“Students are saying there is no vibe,” Chancellor Mark Mone said. “They’re not having the sense of belonging here that they are looking for.”

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, statistics show that 67% of the nationwide class of 2017 returned to school within their college career. At the Academic Staff Senate meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019 Mone touched on the subject of enrollment and transfer rates here at UW-Milwaukee.

“This is a statement about our industry,” Mone explained. “It’s a statement that sometimes people come to college and they never come back.”

Mone continued to explain how the decrease nationwide has also highly impacted UW- Milwaukee as a whole.

“Our enrollment declined this year was about 4% overall,” Mone explained. “Our undergraduates declined, and our graduates were even lower, and our two-year campuses were even lower.”

The discussion further lead into how the UW-Milwaukee students are overly affected by student loans. Statistics have shown that nationwide the average students’ student loan debt is $28,288, while in Wisconsin alone students’ college debt is $29,564, and at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee the average student loan debt is $37,131.

A staff member in the crowd suggested that the reasoning for such a heightened average is the location of UW-Milwaukee. They suggested that since the university is such a diverse school, and Milwaukee a bigger city with some potential poverty struck families and students who are trying to get their degree.

Mone further continued the discussion into transfer students and how it is becoming an issue for UW-Milwaukee.  UW-Milwaukee has a 7% transfer rate, meaning that on average 7% of students transfer out of the school a year.

Mone continued to say that as of Oct. 17^th, 2019 is not nearly as big of an issue in southern schools, but is a major issue with schools, especially in the northeastern regions of the country. This has led to am attempt to problem solve what the university can do to keep the retention rates higher.

Students who have transferred away from UWM have given reasons such as, it’s not a ‘big’ school, they wanted to be closer to home, or it wasn’t the college experience they were hoping for. Many have also expressed that they have changed because UW-Milwaukee does not have the program they are seeking, or they were not admitted into their school.

Junior education student here at UW-Milwaukee, Hailey Peterson, has had the experience of transferring more than most. She started school at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, then transferred closer to home to the University of Wisconsin – Rock County and has made her final stop when she transferred here to UW-Milwaukee.

“Overall, I transferred here for the education program,” Peterson said. “I also like it’s a bigger city so there is so much more to do. I tried Small town UW Colleges and they were not for me. I like that people here seem so much more open minded and there are so many different types of people.”

There are many students who have replied to a survey saying they do love UW-Milwaukee and everything it has to offer such as a good education, the big city, a diverse campus, and a variety of schools to choose from.

The Academic Staff Senate will continue to meet monthly to discuss such issues, and will continue to try to find solutions as to why these rates are constantly going against what they are trying to promote.