The Real Cost Of Studying at UW-Milwaukee: How International Students Adjust To A College Environment

MILWAUKEE,Wis-  UWM has decided that students must pay the international fee after the admission to any program.

F-1 students who are enrolled in school for the semester usually invest in financial support, residential housing and stable living to be successful in their school career.

Although most international students pursue this route for future achievements, it could cause a lot of questions and lead to obstacles that can lead to unstable living.

According to a UWM study, the campus hosted 1,578 international students in the 2022-23 academic school year, but this number has declined in 2025 due to federal crackdowns impacting enrollment.

In the fall of 2025, UWM is expected to see the reduction of 400-500 international students enrolled in campus compared to its average range of 1,300-1,900. 

International students who attend UWM come from over 80 countries, with majority populations of India, South Korea and India. 

The processing fee is a matter that can influence many educational outcomes in different ethnic backgrounds.

“I think this is going to affect international students, especially from outside countries like Central America, Asia and Africa,” said UW Milwaukee student Libby Weisbroad. 

“It’s definitely more nationalistic, a lot more self-focused, so it’s interesting to see the brain dream, but also the lack of wanting to move to America now for an education.”

Any students of different ethnic descent have to go through an immigration approval process, which consists of sponsorship that provides J-1 students with academic funding.

Also applying for a student credit card is a tactic for local universities to attract international students to join their institution.

UWM serves as a gateway for students of any background to join their institution, and some students gravitate towards that physical support they need to adjust to a new environment.

“For students who live on campus in university, there are two main options to choose from:our traditional residence halls and Kenilworth square apartments, which serve upper class and graduate students,” said Business Administration Associate Director Kari Dawson.

“International students live throughout these communities, and we work to ensure all residents-domestic and international-experience the same high standard of comfort, safety and support.”

Dawson’s statement informs the UWM community how the living environment is designed to be well-designed, welcoming and safe. 

Many students shared that living on campus helps them adjust more easily to campus life, meeting new friends and feel connected to the UWM community.

How they are treated and value matters in a school standpoint. With tuition being very high, that can be a decision-making thought about receiving an education.

“The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee implemented an international processing fee to help cover the costs of specialized  support provided to international students after they are admitted and before they arrive on campus,” according to a UWM spokesperson.

UWM Director of International and Scholar Service Kevin Beisser informed the campus community of resources and its approach for international students’ presence.

“This includes guidance on immigration requirements and visas, and pre-arrival services that ensure a smooth transition to UWM,” said university spokesperson.

Although the university’s application to the fee doesn’t imply university undergraduate students which is a way of helping them apply to college.

“Unlike many universities, UWM does not charge an application fee for undergraduate students and has an application fee waiver opportunity for international graduate students. UWM receives several thousand international applications each year. The processing fee helps offset the significant resources required to deliver services to these students. Similar fees are common at universities nationwide,” according to a University spokesperson.

Students often incur significant costs for international credentials evaluations and visa applications that are not reflected in the program’s listed fees.

Challenges that can arrive from the administrative side is the consequential process of submitting financial documents to educational institutions that can be confusing.

Another potential issue that the international fee can cause is the increased potential fraud concerns that can hurt the school’s or student’s reputation.

Many students who attend the university are questionable about the fee. Although the people who are seeking an education question ‘why added financial institutions?’ Once admitted to the university, they are satisfied about their results and are motivated to start their education journey.

The international processing fee has raised many questions about if this solution is fair for international students to receive the same educational value as in-state students.