Founded in 1968, University of Wisconsin-Parkside. is a Public college. Located in Wisconsin, which is a city setting in Wisconsin, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 4,248 full time undergraduate students, and 123 full time graduate students.
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 20:1. There are 162 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of Wisconsin-Parkside include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
62%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
50
SAT Range
ACT Range
18-23
Admissions at UW-P are considered Selective, with ,30% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 31 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
67% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 30% were in the top quarter, and 9% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
0%
“We”re apathetic”
19%
“We know about current events and vote”
69%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
13%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
13%
“We save it for the classroom”
13%
“Sometimes, but not often”
63%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
13%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
50%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
50%
“I feel extremely safe”
31%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
44%
“We bought the gear”
25%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
0%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
56%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
44%
“We”re a very artistic group”
7%
“Haven”t met them”
7%
“Available in class”
67%
“They keep regular office hours”
20%
“They”re always available”
6%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
56%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
38%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
13%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
69%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
6%
“We only party on weekends”
13%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
13%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
75%
“There might be people who do”
13%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
19%
“We know about current events and vote”
69%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
13%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
13%
“We save it for the classroom”
13%
“Sometimes, but not often”
63%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
13%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
50%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
50%
“I feel extremely safe”
31%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
44%
“We bought the gear”
25%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
0%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
56%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
44%
“We”re a very artistic group”
7%
“Haven”t met them”
7%
“Available in class”
67%
“They keep regular office hours”
20%
“They”re always available”
6%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
56%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
38%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
50 Students rated on-campus housing 3.6 stars. 20 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
48 Students rated off-campus housing 3.2 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
78 Students rated campus food 3.4 stars. 23 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
82 Students rated campus facilities 4 stars. 35 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
82 Students rated class size 4.3 stars. 52 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
82 Students rated school activities 3.8 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
82 Students rated local services 3.7 stars. 35 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
82 Students rated academics 4.1 stars. 46 % gave the school a 5.0.
University of Wisconsin-Parkside REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of University of Wisconsin-Parkside?
19 Students rated University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Ashley
Prospective04/15/2025
I love UW Parkside because it's close to home, and I adore their art and music department. Their professors are very easy-going and involved. I believe it will be a good environment for me. The community is very inviting, and I can't wait to be more involved in the student-body, extracurriculars, and activities.
Valerie
09/21/2023
I like the student-faculty ratio. I feel as though it provides the opportunity for students to feel connected to their professors and allows for easier networking opportunities. I do not typically feel unsafe on campus. The only issue is that the doors are always unlocked and an intruder could easily walk in. However, there is not an easy solution for a public university.
Andrew
09/03/2020
In my opinion, Parkside is not such a great school to attend. Through my time at Parkside, I cannot count the times on my hands or toes that I have been rejected by a professor for help. I had problems with one of my professors and went to talk to the dean. The dean had told me to talk to the professor about the problem. Clearly I would not be going to the dean if the problem has not already been brought up with that professor. I feel this school is just there to get the students money and make big claims about being diverse while simultaneously leaving people who have different opinions about big topics to keep their mouths shut or fear failing.
Katelyn
10/03/2019
I love it here. I originally though I had wanted a larger school with a football team and all the school spirit one could handle. However, after coming here, UW - Parkside is just right for me. The smaller class sizes make class time feel more personable and I feel like I am getting more out of my education here. Professors are easy to reach and genuinely care about your education. There are so many opportunities to get involved on campus, you just have to know where to look. It's not located in a big city or around a lot of things, so the scenery no matter the season is beautiful. I take regular walks through the forest or the park nearby and I am never disappointed by the beauty I see. I am very happy I chose to go to school here, I think I would have gotten a sub par education anywhere else.
Marissa
04/17/2019
University of Wisconsin- Parkside is a school in which commuting is more common. It is located away from the city a little, being surrounded by nature, but it is not much far from stores and food places. There are many opportunities to succeed if you look for them and professors are interested in helping you if you demonstrate it. Overall it is a good 4-year university.
Kamar
03/19/2019
My overall opinion of University of Wisconsin- Parkside is just how amazing it is. From their diversity to their classes, Parkside really has it all for me and it really excites me. Parkside has been my dream school since freshman year, An it’s great to have visited the campus and seen all of the positive energy that the campus carries.
Dominque
03/04/2019
I really love being a Ranger. Attending the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has changed my perspective on a lot of stuff. We have a diverse campus and me being a minority woman, I love to see people that look like me. Representation is important and Parkside does a great job at this and providing education about different cultures. There are so many activities where people from all different backgrounds come and share their culture, it is amazing to see and learn about all of these people. The class sizes are good, my biggest lecture was approximately 75 kids and my smallest was approximately 12. I feel it is the perfect school for those who want to be really focused on academics and not partying.
hailey
02/27/2019
I personally do not enjoy being at UWP and I intend to transfer because of it. The campus itself is very run down and feels almost like a combination between an airport and high school. The campus is mostly commuter students so there are a lot of students sitting alone. The entire campus seems very sad and depressing. There are three places to get food on campus. A cafeteria-style eatery, a convenience store-esk stand, and a sub shop. The food is so so with very few healthy options. Academically, UWP falls short. To me, the professors seem to be either overly qualified to be teaching there or grossly underqualified. While they may have degrees and experience, they do not convey their knowledge effectively through teaching. During my spring semester, my business professor has taught me virtually nothing. He uses his platform to shove his religious, political, and racial views down our throats. He frequently uses the n-word and other inappropriate words that should not be used in the classroom. He is not the only professor I have had that has not taught the curriculum and I feel as though I will struggle because of this. Overall I have tried very hard to find a redeeming quality about UWP but have come very short. The only things I have come up with is its close proximity to home and the cost but you are getting what you are paying for.
Kaitlyn
02/20/2019
I am a freshman here at the University of Wisconsin Parkside, and so far I find it enjoyable here, especially since it is so close to home. I commute about 25 minutes each day for classes, and that isn't too bad except for when the weather makes the roads harder to drive on. Other than that, the commute is usually fine and I find decent parking when I arrive there. I would recommend getting to class a half hour or hour before if you are concerned about parking but if you don't mind the extra walking distance, there's usually a spot available there. My academics so far this year have been on the relatively easy side but the teachers have been extremely helpful and their office hours are generally consistent. I was frustrated with the math course I was enrolled in first semester but I went to the tutoring center and they were extremely helpful there and through them I was able to pass all of my exams. Since I commute to campus, I don't see much of the student life but from when I am there, there's always something to do as a student. Usually on the bridge there are clubs and organizations trying to get students involved and you can always go up to them for information as well. Getting involved at Parkside is important to having a successful college experience, and plus you gain friends which is a bonus! Overall I believe the University of Wisconsin Parkside to be a great school and would recommend to anyone looking for an affordable college with great academics.
Victoria
01/10/2019
I absolutely love Parkside. It has become a second home to me. I transferred in and it was the best choice I ever made. The teachers are always very helpful and always there to do what they can for you. They get to know you one on one versus schools that have very large class sizes where the teachers only know you by your seat. All of the staff is very welcoming as are the students. It is a very diverse school and I would reccomend it to someone who is looking for for a smaller campus, friendly faces, and interesting classes.
Hayley
01/08/2019
I believe this school is a great fit for people who want to be apart of a close knit community that really cares about you and your goals. Everyone always seems to be available for anyone who needs their help, including the staff. Overall, I can't wait to be a Ranger myself as this school feels like it's a family instead of one of those large colleges where you don't know anyone at all.
Anna
07/16/2018
The University of Wisconsin-Parkside has treated me with kindness since I started out as a freshmen this past year. I have met so many people from so many back ground that I love the atmosphere. The classes provide you with what you need to succeed in your major. There is always somewhere to study and someone to help you study. It is a very clean school that I would recommend to others.
Amanda
03/06/2018
I think for a smaller UW school it is nice. I wish the professors cared more about the students because there aren’t nearly as many as there are at Milwaukee or Lacrosse. I recommend anyone that is close to try it out and see how they feel. It’s a different experience for everyone.
Michael
01/01/2018
It's an excellent college to provide structure for individuals to make their dreams or goals to come to pass. Just being at University of Wisconsin-Parkside for a semester has open my mind to one capability that I know is possible to do in life: graduate there and pursue my career.
Jessica
09/24/2017
I think Parkside is a great school with a beautiful campus and great buildings. The food is okay, and the academics are up to par, but campus housing has limited options and the housing director isn't very involved unless you threaten with legal action, but commuting isn't great either, parking is awful.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of Wisconsin-Parkside is 62%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
I am a returning student. I have an undergraduate degree and a law degree, I have practiced law and done other work, and I have a child. Despite the experiences I have had throughout the years, there are several things I regret not doing. So if I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to take advantage of all opportunities that are presented in college. I would tell myself to join clubs and organizations, to travel during the summer, to attend talks and discussions with visitors to campus, and to take every opportunity for new experiences. During my first college experience, I concentrated primarily on getting top grades. While good grades are important and did help in my future career choices, they cannot substitute for the knowledge and experience to be gained outside the classroom. I don't regret any of the opportunities I took advantage of in college; the thing I regret is not taking advantage of more of those oportunities.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
I wish I knew how many oppertunities there are! I find myself wanting to join in, but there isn't enough time in the day. Also, I would have wanted to know that the professors would know me by name and have high expectations, not only for me, but for the entire class.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
It's difficult to pick just one, because I brag mostly about two things: The first being the amazing quality of my teachers. I have professors who have their doctorates in their respective fields and give amazing lectures. The second would be the beautiful area surrounding the campus. Parkside is located right next to an amazing and enormous park, with some of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen.
Before attending UW Parkside, I attended UW Madison, a much larger and more competitive university. I feel as though Parkside is a much better fit for me.
The people that should attend UW-Parkside would be people who like quiet enviornments, like their main focus to be their academics, but still have fun with friends. They should want to be themselves and make new friends, and they should be someone who likes doing extracurricular activities, because Parkside has an activity for just about any kind of person.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
UW-Parkside has a large variety of electives that are offered. I considered many different art schools, but I decided I would like to be well-rounded, rather than concentrate only on art. Also, Parkside was the only school that offered Digital Arts as a major, paired with Web Design as a concentration. My education here can on design as well as the technical aspect of using computers in conjunction.
What I consider the best thing about my school is, that I am able to request for help and they respond to me quiet fast. I also like that it is a smaller school. It is easier for me to walk around and attend my classes on time.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
There is no person that shouldn't attend this school . there are always acticvities going on for all kinds of different groups and the school is so diverse everyone fits in perfectly.
Parkside is well known for their cross-country course. We are also known for the high number of graduates that continue on to graduate of proffesional school.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
79% of students attending University of Wisconsin-Parkside receive some sort of financial aid.
37% were awarded federal grants.57%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.