ADULT STUDENTS
Whether you’re starting college for the first time or returning to the classroom after many years away, it’s never too late to earn your degree at UW-Whitewater.
Our admissions, student services, and veteran services teams collaborate in warmly welcoming returning adult students.
EVERYONE HAS A STORY
Unique program offers working adults degree opportunities
A program designed to provide working adults with technical college credits a pathway to a bachelor’s degree, saw its first cohort of graduates in May, 2023.
How to apply UW-Whitewater
As an adult student, you’ll still use the traditional University of Wisconsin System Application for Undergraduate Admission.
First step
Start your online .
What to expect next
Within a few days, after you submit your application, you’ll receive an email about setting up an account for our . You can track your college application progress, such as what documents still might be needed.
Adult students at UW-Whitewater
in the top 10% of the best schools for nontraditional students in the nation. And we're recognized among Abound’s Top Adult Degree Programs, based on factors that cover the essential needs of the non-traditional student—accessibility, affordability, acceleration, and advancement. The university is noted for flexible classes and services, affordable courses, a range of quality programs, and degrees that help your students advance in their field. We’re proud of these honors. From the Adult Student Welcome through graduation, these are just a few ways we support and recognize students like you:
- Pre-enrollment advising
- Dedicated student services coordinator
- Annual outstanding adult learner awards
- Annual outstanding faculty CARE award for serving adult students
- Celebration of Nontraditional Student Week
Learn more about how we serve adult students at our
If you have questions about applying to UW-Whitewater,
As a returning adult student, you won’t need to submit your ACT or SAT scores. Instead, we complete a comprehensive review of your application to determine if we believe you can be successful in our academic environment.
We’ll look at factors such as:
● Military training
● Work experience
● Prior education
● Personal motivation
● Commitment to career goals
The UW application for admission will ask you to select what type of undergraduate student you are. Here are some details to help guide you:
New freshman: if you’ve graduated high school but have never attended a college or university since high school.
Transfer student: if you’ve graduated high school, enrolled at a college or university other than UW-Whitewater, and now plan to attend UW-Whitewater.
Re-entry student: if you’ve graduated high school, attended UW-Whitewater as a degree-seeking student and wish to return to UW-Whitewater after an absence of one or more semesters.
Special student: You might classify as a special student if you’re a high school graduate planning to attend UW-Whitewater, but not to earn your first bachelor’s degree.
Examples might include:
- A non-degree-seeking student (such as courses for teaching certification)
- A “guest” student enrolling for no more than six credits
- A student taking prerequisite courses for a UW-Whitewater graduate program
- Someone earning their second bachelor’s degree
Admissions
Returning adult students should apply to UW-Whitewater by:
- May 1 for the fall semester
- Dec. 1 for the spring semester
Financial Aid
We suggest you complete your FAFSA by:
- Jan. 1 for priority financial aid consideration
Financial aid, such as scholarships for adult students, is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to apply early.
