A lot of living goes on in our residence hall communities. While you’re here making some of your best college memories, expect to make lifelong friendships along the way. As you’re learning what it takes to live well in your home away from home, we’ll be here for you, encouraging you to be all you can be.
During your first two years here, you’ll call one of our 10 residence halls home. Whichever hall you land in, our caring staff, specialized facilities and personalized programs make each residence hall a unique, comfortable and safe environment. You’ll have all you need to thrive and make yourself at home.
We believe food feeds the soul, so expect to have lots of moments here making friends over a meal. From full-service dining halls with various cultural dishes to convenient cafés with quick bites, Marquette keeps you nourished. We have a nutritionist on staff to help with special dietary needs and a limited-diets station. There’s also an on-campus grocery store as well as nationally renowned dining not far from campus, including USA Today's No. 1-ranked food hall, the Milwaukee Public Market (pictured above).
Our central location just over a mile from Lake Michigan’s breathtaking shoreline gives you the ideal home base from which to explore our hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We have big-city opportunities, with the ease and friendliness of a small town. Discover world-class sports, restaurants, music venues, festivals, shopping, art and theatre all within walking distance of campus. And easy transportation options — including your unlimited U-Pass for the bus — can take you anywhere your feet can’t.
Forbes, 2024
Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, 2024
Milwaukee is home to an extensive number of companies and organizations in every industry, including several Fortune 500 headquarters. This adds up to tremendous opportunities for our students — for internships and co-ops, networking, volunteering and career development. You may even find your future job here and stay for a while.
Since 1881, Marquette has been in the heart of the city because that was our founding Jesuits’ plan: to be in community with our community. At Marquette, we live our Catholic, Jesuit mission of service and embrace the responsibility of making sure our talents and resources are making a difference right here — through our commitment to serve; clinics, centers and programs that provide services to community members; community-based research; neighborhood and industry partnerships; safety and more.
Spring, summer, fall and winter in Milwaukee offer different opportunities for outdoor activities. Lake Michigan keeps us cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, but you’ll still need to dress warmly and have snow boots for our winters. From breathtaking hikes in the fall and ice skating at Red Arrow Park in the winter to kayaking the Milwaukee River in the spring and body surfing at Bradford Beach in the summer, there’s no shortage of fun here to fill your free time.
Lake Park, Hank Aaron State Trail
Hank Aaron State Trail, Oak Leaf Trail, Milwaukee Metro Mountain Bikers’ trails, Bublr Bikes rentals
Milwaukee and Menomonee rivers; rentals available
Bradford Beach
Adventure Rock climbing gym, Turner Hall climbing gym, Devil's Lake State Park
Three Bridges Trail, Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Kettle Moraine State Forest
Milwaukee and Menomonee rivers, Milwaukee lakefront
150 state and county parks, 1,500 acres of beaches
Start by connecting over something you love. Join us at O-Fest to explore Marquette’s nearly 300 clubs, sororities, fraternities, centers and other organizations. From sports and arts to culture and faith, you’re certain to find the topic — and the people — that will make you look forward to every get-together. And don’t be shy about getting out of your comfort zone by trying something new or taking on a leadership position.
At Marquette, we believe experiencing cultural diversity is an opportunity. So we foster an intellectual, cultural and social environment that respects human dignity and equity, where all community members feel welcomed and respected and enjoy equal opportunities for success.
A big part of the Marquette experience is rooting for our Golden Eagles. We have 16 NCAA Division I sports teams, with basketball taking center court here. Our men’s team plays in Fiserv Forum, where the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks play, and our women play on campus in “The Al.” Rock both houses with our pep bands, cheer and dance teams, and Iggy the Golden Eagle leading the fan fun.
Our NCAA Division I teams play in the Big East Conference. Marquette has consistently competitive teams in women’s and men’s basketball, soccer, lacrosse, track and field, cross country and tennis, and women’s volleyball and men’s golf. Our student-athletes are not only on top of their sport, they’re also on top of their academics, serving our community and leading in and outside the classroom.
For those who still love to play their sport and are looking for community but less time commitment than our Division I athletes, Marquette has a club sport for you. A variety of club teams representing 40-plus sports offer various competition levels, with higher competition and travel for some, recreational or instructional levels for others.
Students are at the heart of all we do at Marquette, and we have built a culture of wellness here to make sure each student is supported holistically as an individual — mind, body and spirit. We call this Jesuit principle cura personalis. It’s our priority and our privilege to ensure you have access to all the resources you need to stay well and thrive.
As 2024 closes out, Marquette will open a new facility that brings together all your health and wellness resources. The Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility will be a destination that supports both physical and mental health by bringing under one roof our fitness and recreation facilities alongside our Counseling Center and Medical Clinic.
An important part of our mission is engaging in the city we call home. So, we want you to be able to safely take advantage of all our city has to offer in relation to your personal growth — culture, entertainment, service, and professional development opportunities. To provide a transformative education, we support you as you learn how to safely live in a city, and we take that responsibility very seriously.
If the arts are your passion, rest assured they are alive and well here at Marquette. Beyond majors and minors course work and an academic partnership with the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, you can pursue your love of the arts in communities for musicians, filmmakers, writers, performers, creators and more. You’ll find unique, accessible-to-all creative spaces across campus in which you can practice your craft. And find inspiration throughout Milwaukee, which has a vibrant arts scene.
