Marquette University

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit Catholic, Jesuit university founded in Milwaukee in 1881
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Current 2026–27 bulletin confirms bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral study
• Eleven colleges and schools span undergraduate, graduate and professional education

Student Life & Environment

Campus life combines residential communities, student organizations, recreation, faith activities and service in Milwaukee. Marquette reports more than 270 student clubs and organizations, including academic, cultural, performance, service, recreational, fraternity and sorority, and faith-based groups. Club and intramural sports provide options beyond varsity athletics. Catholic practice is visible through Mass, the St. Joan of Arc Chapel, residence-hall ministry and other Campus Ministry programs. The university also identifies opportunities associated with other Christian traditions and welcomes students to faith and spirituality activities. Prospective students should consider whether this religiously engaged environment matches their preferences even though participation in campus life is broader than worship. Residence halls provide programming and staff support, while the Alumni Memorial Union serves as a center for organizations and activities. Health and wellness resources include recreation facilities, a medical clinic, counseling and health-promotion services within the Wellness and Helfaer Recreation complex. Service is a particularly prominent part of the Jesuit mission: students can connect with Milwaukee organizations through structured volunteer programs. Students experiencing food insecurity can also use the university’s confidential on-campus food pantry.

Location & Surroundings

Marquette’s main address is 1250 West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee. The campus lies near downtown and just over a mile from Lake Michigan, placing students close to the city’s employment, entertainment and cultural districts. Milwaukee offers professional sports, museums, music, theatre, festivals and dining, while its businesses, health systems, schools and nonprofit organizations create potential settings for internships, clinical learning and service. This is an urban campus, so prospective students should evaluate city living, transportation, neighborhood conditions and housing plans during a visit rather than expecting a secluded residential setting. The location can be especially useful for students seeking professional experience during the academic year because employers and community partners are available within the metropolitan area. It also means that much of the surrounding social and cultural experience extends beyond university property. Milwaukee’s position on Lake Michigan gives students access to waterfront spaces and a larger regional economy. Applicants comparing Marquette with college-town institutions should treat integration with Milwaukee as a central part of the experience, not merely a nearby amenity.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–27, full-time undergraduate tuition is $53,890 across the principal undergraduate colleges. The university’s published cost-of-attendance estimate for a dependent undergraduate living in university housing adds $17,480 for living expenses, $1,200 in student fees, $720 for required course materials and supplies, $2,950 for personal expenses, plus travel and any applicable instrument costs. These are planning figures rather than every student’s bill, and some health, professional and graduate programs use different rates. Students seeking aid should complete the FAFSA and review current institutional scholarship rules. For Fall 2026, the Père Marquette Award provides automatic consideration, while other scholars programs require additional applications or specific eligibility. International students face narrower institutional-aid options: the university states that they are not eligible for scholarships outside Global Scholars and the listed scholars programs. Applicants should compare aid offers by net cost and renewal terms, not headline tuition alone. Marquette’s 2024–25 First Destination Survey measured outcomes six months after graduation. It reported an 87% career-outcomes rate for bachelor’s recipients, with a 95% knowledge rate; 93% of full-time employed undergraduate respondents said their work aligned with their career goals. Graduate, management and health-sciences professional recipients had a 93% career-outcomes rate, based on a 75% knowledge rate. These survey results describe the 2024–25 graduating cohort and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed individual result or salary forecast.