The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO) is a public university in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with 12,953 students, 11,994 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are a low in-state price, a broad program list inside the University of Wisconsin System and a strong NCAA Division III sports tradition; its cons are a four-year graduation rate of 27%, a 69% freshman retention rate and recent budget cuts.
Here are the pros and cons in detail, followed by cost, outcome and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database, so you can judge whether UW-Oshkosh is a good school for your plans.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh at a Glance
- Type: 4-year public university in the University of Wisconsin System, offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
- Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin, classified as “City: Small”.
- History: founded in 1871 as Oshkosh State Normal School, a teacher-training school; it joined the University of Wisconsin System in 1971.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 12,953 total, 11,994 undergraduate, 959 graduate. Half of undergraduates attend part-time.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 22 to 1.
- Admission: 87% of 7,660 applicants were admitted for fall 2024.
Pros: What UW-Oshkosh Does Well
- An affordable in-state price. Wisconsin residents paid $8,532 in tuition and fees in 2024-2025, and the average net price for full-time beginning students after grants was $12,500 in 2023-2024.
- Accessible admission. With 87% of applicants admitted and a median ACT composite of 21 among enrolled freshmen, UWO is within reach for most Wisconsin high school graduates.
- A long teaching tradition. The university started as a normal school for teachers and has run graduate programs since 1963. It also has a College of Nursing.
- Flexible for working and part-time students. Half of undergraduates study part-time, and 7% take all of their courses at a distance, so the university is set up for students who are not on a traditional full-time schedule.
- Winning Division III athletics. The Titans compete in NCAA Division III. The men’s basketball team won the Division III national championship in 2019, and the football team were national runners-up in 2016.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at UW-Oshkosh
- Low on-time graduation. Of full-time freshmen who began a bachelor’s degree in fall 2018, 27% graduated in four years and 54% in six. Budget for more than four years.
- Freshman retention is modest. 69% of full-time students who started in fall 2023 returned in fall 2024.
- Budget pressure. In 2023 the university planned to close an $18 million deficit with employee furloughs and the elimination of 200 non-faculty jobs. It has also stopped operating its former satellite campuses in Fond du Lac and Menasha (Fox Cities).
- Larger classes. The 22 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio is on the high side.
- Less grant aid than some peers. In 2023-2024, 51% of full-time beginning students received grants or scholarships, averaging $6,605, while 43% took out student loans.
What UW-Oshkosh Costs: Tuition, Housing and Net Price
| Item (2024-2025 unless noted) | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $8,532 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $16,446 |
| On-campus food and housing | $9,410 |
| Total in-state cost, living on campus | $22,442 |
| Total out-of-state cost, living on campus | $30,356 |
| Average net price (2023-2024) | $12,500 |
Net price varies with family income: in 2023-2024 it averaged $9,236 for families earning up to $30,000 and $19,223 for those earning more than $110,000. Minnesota residents should also check whether reciprocity rates apply to them before comparing out-of-state prices.
Is UW-Oshkosh a Good School? What the Numbers Say
UW-Oshkosh is a good value school for Wisconsin residents who want a public university degree at a modest price, particularly in teaching, nursing or business, and for part-time or working students who need flexibility.
It is a weaker choice if speed of completion matters most. The overall graduation rate for the fall 2018 cohort was 46%, the four-year bachelor’s rate was 27%, and freshman retention was 69%. Students who pick UWO do best with a clear major plan and early use of advising.
Who Accredits UW-Oshkosh?
UW-Oshkosh is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which has accredited it continuously since 1928, and College Navigator lists its next review for 2029. Programs such as nursing, education and business also hold separate programmatic accreditation.
Who UW-Oshkosh Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: Wisconsin residents on a budget, students who want a mid-sized public campus in a small city, part-time and adult students, and athletes looking at competitive Division III programs.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you want small classes, a high four-year graduation rate, or a school with a larger share of students receiving grant aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is UW-Oshkosh hard to get into? No. It admitted 87% of applicants for fall 2024.
- What division is UW-Oshkosh? The Titans compete in NCAA Division III in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).
- Does UW-Oshkosh still have the Fox Cities and Fond du Lac campuses? No. Wikipedia lists them as former satellite campuses.
- Is UW-Oshkosh part of the UW System? Yes, since 1971.