Transfer student success a priority at UW-Whitewater

October 20, 2025

Transfer students who attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are treated to the full Warhawk experience — and they’re succeeding as a result.

The university joins thousands of institutions around the country to celebrate National Transfer Student Week, an annual event dedicated to celebrating the contributions of transfer students and the people who support them, from Oct. 20-24.

According to preliminary data for the fall 2025 semester, a total of 651 new Warhawks are transfer students, including 556 on the Whitewater campus and 95 on the Rock County campus. This year’s total represents an increase of almost 10% from this time last year.

Transfers enroll at UW-Whitewater after attending a variety of institutions — other Universities of Wisconsin, a community college or technical college, or a private college. Many students — more than 20% on the Whitewater campus in 2024 — come from out-of-state institutions.

According to the most recent Universities of Wisconsin data, UW-Whitewater is among the leaders in both retention and graduation rate of transfers.

UW-Whitewater consistently retains more than 80% of its transfer students each year. In 2023, nearly 85% of students who started at the university in the fall were still enrolled as Warhawks one year later.

In 2023-24, UW-Whitewater ranked second among the Universities of Wisconsin — trailing only UW-Madison — in four-year graduation rate of transfers at 71.7%. Out-of-state transfers from Illinois have a 71.3% likelihood of graduating in four years, according to institutional data.

Dave Hahn, assistant director of admissions and transfer coordinator, realizes that every student has a unique pathway to UW-Whitewater. That understanding is shared by the entire campus.

“Our campus has been a longtime leader in transferability,” Hahn said. “Our staff — and our campus as a whole — think about transfers all the way through. Transfer students aren’t transfer students once they’re here — they’re just UW-Whitewater students.

“When our faculty and staff are building curriculums and making updates and changes, all those processes go through with transfer students in mind so a student can transfer in and not be behind or have to start over.”

When students inquire about transferring to UW-Whitewater, Hahn said their most common questions are regarding how their credits will transfer, how much tuition will cost, and how long it will take to graduate. 

“The way our whole campus is set up, we maximize each of those areas,” he said.

Once students apply, Hahn and his team do an official credit evaluation of all previously completed coursework and calculate the transfer GPA. Students who are offered admission are sent an admission packet with next steps toward enrollment. Within four days of admission, students can access their degree audit through their student portal in Stellic — UW-Whitewater’s new academic planning tool — to view how their transfer credits are applying toward their degree plan.

Community, technical colleges » UW-Whitewater

Students with Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees coming from community colleges have an ideal path to a bachelor’s degree. There are some variables, but most courses transfer into UW-Whitewater degree programs and satisfy general education requirements, Hahn noted.

An option for students who attend technical colleges in Wisconsin is UW-Whitewater at Rock County’s Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree. The classes they take at their technical college fit more neatly into the BAAS program than a traditional bachelor’s program.

 

 

The BAAS degree, which can be completed fully online, is an ideal path for working professionals to significantly ease their path to a bachelor’s degree, Hahn said.

The URock pathway

Alfie McKearn, a biology science education major from Beloit, Wisconsin, followed the same path as his older brother, Joe, a teacher in the Janesville area. Knowing he wanted to teach, he started his college career on the Rock County campus, where he enjoyed the affordability and small community feel.

“A lot of my friends went to big cities, and I never liked that,” McKearn said. “There were good and bad parts, but it was comfortable and familiar. All my professors were really kind, and they took time to talk with you.”

Transferring to the Whitewater campus, which allowed McKearn to keep working in Beloit, was a simple choice.

“It was a click of a button on the website,” he said. “I wanted to transfer to Whitewater, and that was it. It couldn’t have been easier.”

McKearn landed a job as a resident assistant, a position he’s held for two years working in Wellers Hall. He’s also been a part of music groups on the Whitewater campus, including the Chamber Singers and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and he participated in a travel study to Yellowstone National Park.

Scholarships have also allowed McKearn, who is slated to graduate in May 2027, to keep the cost of his education manageable. He is a recipient of multiple scholarships during his time at UW-Whitewater.

“It took such a weight off,” he said. “I put a lot of work into my grades in high school, and it’s nice to be recognized for that and get a little bit of help.”

Transitioning from a four-year institution

 

Sidney Murphy knew within the first few weeks of her time as a freshman at another four-year state school that she needed a better fit to suit her ideal college experience.

Fast forward four years, and Murphy is set to graduate with a BBA in supply chain management this May.

Murphy was connected through a family friend to a UW-Whitewater academic advisor, who recommended classes and potential majors to explore. She used Transferology to learn how her credits would transfer to the university.

“I would encourage (anyone transferring) to reach out to an advisor,” she said. “They are very helpful, they will walk you through the process step by step, and they can help you set up a tour.”

Murphy enrolled at UW-Whitewater for the spring 2023 semester and immediately bonded with the faculty and staff on campus, enjoying the small class sizes.

“I definitely like all the professors here,” Murphy said. “They’re all very helpful and friendly.”

She joined the university’s Association of Supply Chain Management (ASCM) chapter and the club water polo team, and is an active member in both organizations. She now serves as treasurer for the water polo team.

 

 

The short distance from her hometown of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, was a deciding factor for Murphy choosing UW-Whitewater — something Hahn cited as a common reason for students to transfer to the university.

“The commute was another big factor in my decision to transfer,” Murphy said. “It helped me stay focused on my goal of graduating debt free.”

Murphy is hired before graduation to the 2-year rotational program at IEWC, a cable and wire distributor in New Berlin, Wisconsin. She worked an internship with the company over the summer in materials management and procurement and will start her new position in July 2026.