Marquette University (MU)

Marquette University is all about education in and out of the classroom. That means there’s a lot of “learning through service and community engagement,” and there’s good use of the central Milwaukee location as an extended classroom. Students might visit the Haggerty Museum of Art for inspiration on their essays, and lessons meant to ensure “social justice [is] strongly integrated into the curriculum” might take place at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Students in specialized programs also get out in the community. Education students can “volunteer in a school once a week…to meet and interact with Milwaukee community members, while also seeing the things I was learning in class in the students I was working with.” One nursing student adds: “Clinical opportunities, interprofessional days for collaboration between different health professionals, mentorship opportunities, and connections to Milwaukee make the Marquette experience.” On campus, academic work is likewise impactful. Computer science students appreciate that “at an undergraduate level, we are taught how to customize, utilize, and implement AI systems into business, particularly accounting and finance,” and engineering students look forward to the Marmon Holdings Innovation Challenge, where they are given ten hours to solve a real-world problem. Overall, “professors are very knowledgeable in what they teach, most have had careers in it, and they provide real-world examples to help engage students.” Marquette further connects students with industry professionals outside of the faculty via one-credit seminars and the Marquette Mentors Program, which partners students with “accomplished alumni and friends of the university for one-on-one guidance, career exploration and growth.” In prioritizing service and community involvement throughout its coursework, Marquette is “very much oriented towards how we can apply what we are learning in a real-life situation.”

Marquette students feel that “you will never have a hard time finding someone who is friendly.” Another student agrees, describing their peers as “friendly, optimistic, typical Midwestern nice. Everyone looks out for each other and treats classmates like family.” For many, “the tight-knit community feels special…For 8,000 students, it feels much smaller when it comes to campus community, but much bigger when it comes to large campus events, as everyone shows up.” Marquette students also appreciate the balance between honoring “the Jesuit values of the university” while also maintaining a welcoming atmosphere that “creates spaces for all religions.” One student describes their peers as “inclusive and welcoming…Everyone is always so willing to learn about new cultures and activities around campus, which makes it joyous to be here.” In short, Marquette “students hope to make a difference in the world and are excited to do so together.”

Students love the “city-life feel” they get at Marquette: “I often go downtown by the waterfront and run, go to the coffee shops, and attend the many festivals that happen downtown.” One student found the Coffee Club was a great introduction to Milwaukee life: “Every month, a group of about 15…get on the bus and try a new cafe. As an avid coffee drinker, this was right up my alley and allowed me to explore the Milwaukee area and meet new people as a freshman coming in from out of state.” In addition to exploring Milwaukee, many students cite sports as a favorite extracurricular activity, and sharing a basketball stadium with the professional Milwaukee Bucks brings “big school spirit” when it comes to Marquette basketball games. “Thousands of students, alumni, and community members come together to celebrate and cheer on our basketball team. It is a surreal feeling to have so many people together for the same reason on a regular basis.” Whether it’s finding the perfect farmer’s market or study spot, watching a basketball game, or enjoying the lake on a warm day, “Milwaukee has so much to offer the students of Marquette.”

The Career Services Center at Marquette University is a valuable resource for both students and alumni, offering guidance, job-search strategies, and “many opportunities to network with professionals.” In addition to providing the vast platform Handshake to search for internship and job opportunities, the school has its own platform, the Marquette Career Network, where students can connect with alumni all over the world for things like mentoring and professional networking. Another benefit for career-seeking grads is that the university “is located in a city that has a wealth of resources for internships and prospective jobs.” And the school provides more than just an education: “They have many connections, so you are able to gain experience, shadow, and explore possible career options after graduation.” This helps to explain Marquette’s employment rate of 95.55% for students 10 years after graduation. Not only are employment rates high for grads, but so are salaries, with Payscale.com reporting a median early-career salary of $62,200.