Rising Costs Leave UWM Students Uncertain About the Future 

It’s no secret that the cost of living in America has been on the rise for years, and college students are feeling the effects as they try to pursue higher education. For students in Milwaukee, the cost of housing, tuition and groceries can be a barrier to achieving their goals.

For the 2025–26 school year, the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a 5% tuition increase for all campuses. At the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, that means a $518.12 increase for a full-time in-state student. Nonresidents saw an increase of $1,117.88.

These increases may seem small to some, but they’re part of a long-term trend. According to Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System Agenda 2005-06 tuition rates , the annual tuition was $5,494. By 2025-2026, it’s $10,915.96. Nearly doubled in 20 years.

Rising tuition and other living expenses are leaving many students uncertain about continuing their education.

Living Situations of UWM Students

Amber Walton graduated from UWM in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in occupational science and technology. She took a gap year for 2025–26 and plans to pursue her master’s in occupational therapy.

The cost of graduate school while living on her own is an obstacle in Walton’s path to becoming an occupational therapist.

“Grad school is basically 40 hours a week itself,” Walton said. “Having to work two jobs just to make sure the lights stay on is pretty stressful. I don’t want to make it so far and then not be able to finish, but I also don’t want to completely drain myself to get there.”

Walton works two jobs to pay rent while saving for graduate school. She’s one of many students trying to continue their education after earning a bachelor’s degree but financial stress can burn students out before they reach their goals.

Many college students live with roommates to save money, as living alone can be too much of a financial burden and lead to dropping out. According to Apartment List National Rent Report, the median rent for all apartment sizes in Milwaukee County is $1,200.

UWM has three residence halls; Cambridge Commons, Riverview and Sandburg. According to UWM Housing Rates, these halls offer singles, doubles and triples. Some units feature kitchens. The cheapest is a double in Sandburg Hall at $6,120 for the academic year. The most expensive is a single in Sandburg at $8,560. A double upgrade in Cambridge Commons costs $8,150.

Not Enough Money to Live or Eat

Students without financial support from family or friends can find themselves forgoing their education due to the mounting costs. While students can apply for work-study or on-campus jobs, the pay often isn’t enough.

The median pay for student employees in University Recreation is $12.07 an hour, and the average wage for other campus jobs is $12.27.

According to Living Wage Calculation for Milwaukee County, the livable wage for one adult with no dependents working full time is $20.09 an hour.

Students can find slightly higher-paying jobs off campus, ranging between $13 and $19 an hour. But a full-time student is expected to devote about 35 hours per week to classes and studying, making it difficult to balance academics and work. Many end up funding their education and housing while earning below a livable wage.

Food is another major expense. According to According to Education Data Initiative, college students spend an average of $263 to $410 a month on groceries or eating out.

UWM meal plans range from $2,800 to $5,100 per school year. All university housing students are required to have a meal plan, a mandatory expense that not every student uses fully.

These costs can take a toll on students’ mental, physical and emotional well-being.

Kamadre Knightdale, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee majoring in Journalism, Advertising and Media studies, said the financial pressure has made him question his education, even considering dropping out before his second semester.

“I’m paying out of pocket and still owe a bit over $3,000 for the semester,” Knightdale said. “It’s definitely stressful because I didn’t save up enough. Now I’m working harder while trying to do schoolwork, and that’s not really going well. It’s my first semester here, and I’ve already thought about dropping out.”

Knightdale works a part-time campus job that pays $11 an hour. He expects to pay about $6,000 out of pocket for the academic year while earning far below Milwaukee’s livable wage.

The Upcoming Future

The “Big Beautiful Bill,” signed on July 4, 2025, by President Donald Trump, introduced cuts to SNAP food benefits and potential reductions in federal aid for undergraduate and graduate students. According to the American Association of University Professors,, the bill results in nearly $300 billion less in student aid through stricter limits on parent and graduate borrowing.

Under the new law, students must enroll in at least 15 credits per semester up from 12 to receive the maximum Pell Grant.

Most significant changes take effect July 1, 2026, which could add more strain to students already struggling with tuition and living expenses. These changes may prevent many from ever reaching the graduation stage.