WI · Dorms · Off-Campus

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Off-Campus Housing (2026)

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How many of you can legally share a house? Milwaukee never prints a cap, but more than three unrelated people makes the home a rooming house, which is not allowed in residential districts — and no more than two roomers are permitted in any unit. See the rule, quoted from the city code, for 34 college towns →

UWM requires first-time freshmen under 21 to live in university housing, but demand routinely outruns supply: housing was full for Fall 2026, and students left without a contract are automatically exempted from the requirement and put on a waitlist. Secure a contract early or plan to rent. After freshman year most students move to the Upper East Side, Murray Hill, Riverwest and Shorewood.

Apartments students actually rent

Every community below is real and was checked against its own website in August 2026 — the links go straight to each property's site and floor-plan page so you can compare layouts and current rates.

CommunityDistanceUnits & sizesRentFurnished?Links
The Park at 1824
Purpose-built student housing; heated parking garage		~0.5 mi (East Side)2BR & 3BR; per-bed
785-897 sqft		3BR $649-$850/bed; 2BR $950-$999Yeswebsite · floor plans
The Eastsider
Newer elevator building on the Oakland retail strip		~0.4 mi (Oakland Ave)Studio-2BR per unit
450-1,100 sqft		studios from $1,395/unitNowebsite · floor plans
Wellston Apartments
Family-run portfolio marketed to UWM students		Across from the Student Union1BR-3BR per unitcall for ratesNowebsite · floor plans
Maryland Park
Heat, gas, water & sewer included		~0.4 mi walkStudio-2BR per unit~$1,095+/unitNowebsite · floor plans
Kenilworth Square (UWM-owned)
University-run lofts in a 1914 Ford plant; 21+ or junior standing		~1 mi south of campus1BR-3BR1BR $1,170-$1,220/unit; 3BR to $2,220Yeswebsite · floor plans
Mosaic on Oakland
Luxury option on the Oakland Ave bus line into campus		~1 mi north (Shorewood)1BR-2BR per unitcall for ratesNowebsite · floor plans

Rates and availability change every lease season — verify everything with the property before signing.

What you'll need

Furnished units still need bedding, kitchen basics, and cleaning gear; unfurnished rentals add the big anchors — mattress, bed frame, sofa, and a table. Our checklist filters by furnished vs unfurnished so you only pack what your unit is missing.

Apartment checklist   Apartment shop

Staying in the dorms instead? Head back to the UW-Milwaukee dorm dimensions and dorm packing list.

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