Students can earn 60 credits at Moraine Park tech college, start as UW-Milwaukee juniors

College students who earn two-year degrees in certain programs at Moraine Park Technical College can transfer 60 credits, or half of a four-year degree, to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under a new articulation agreement between the two schools.

For students, that means the transfer agreement announced Wednesday could help save money on their path to earning a bachelor's degree. Moraine Park charges $188.90 per associate's degree tuition credit, whereas UW-Milwaukee charges $690.18 per credit for resident undergraduates , though program costs can vary.

"This agreement guarantees admission and streamlines the transfer process, demonstrating our commitment to breaking down barriers and empowering students to pursue a life-changing education," Mark Mone, chancellor of UW-Milwaukee, said in a prepared statement about the agreement.

UW-Milwaukee and Moraine Park, Waukesha County and Gateway technical colleges announced a partnership in January. Wednesday's agreement expands the partnership, allowing Moraine Park students to transfer to the four-year school if they earn associate of arts, associate of sciences or associate of applied science degrees in 49 programs like graphic design, leadership and organizational development, IT network specialist and criminal justice.

Transfer agreements between technical colleges and four-year schools are becoming more popular across Wisconsin. Along with reducing costs for a four-year degree, those agreements also act as a recruitment tool to help address declining enrollment at both two-year and four-year colleges and universities.

Headcount enrollment across the Wisconsin Technical College System has fallen by about 36% since fall 1992 , public data show. UW-Milwaukee has seen its enrollment decline, too , from a headcount of 30,470 students in 2010 to 22,703 last year.

Moraine Park is among the 16 publicly funded technical colleges in Wisconsin. As of 2022-23, the college, with main campuses in Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam and West Bend, had 14,347 students based on its headcount enrollment.

Moraine Park has over 25 transfer agreements with partner colleges, according to information provided by the college.

"These agreements with UWM hold significant importance as it not only serves our students, but also continues to fill the educational needs of Washington County constituents in light of recent changes in the higher education landscape," said Doug Hamm, Moraine Park's vice president of teaching and learning, in a prepared statement.

Cleo Krejci covers higher education, vocational training and retraining as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com . Follow her on X at @_CleoKrejci . Support her work with a tax-deductible donation at bit.ly/RFADonation .

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Students can earn 60 credits at Moraine Park tech college, start as UW-Milwaukee juniors