Leaders from Alverno College and Milwaukee Public Schools pose after announcing Alverno’s participation in the Direct Admit program.

Earlier this year, Alverno College and Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) announced a new direct admit partnership, making Alverno the first private institution —and first Hispanic-Serving Institution— in the program. Milwaukee Direct Admit allows high school juniors to apply to participating colleges through a streamlined application that takes less than ten minutes. The free application requires no attachments, essay, or letter of recommendation, helping remove barriers and expand access to higher education.

Alverno joins Milwaukee Area Technical College and participating Universities of Wisconsin as partners in the MPS direct admissions initiative.

“The Direct Admit program is particularly critical to first-generation students, taking what can be a daunting process and making it less overwhelming,” said Mariana Sanabria, vice president for enrollment services at Alverno. “Alverno College is deeply committed to providing resources that help our first-generation students—and all of our students—thrive, and this is an important first step in getting students over the hurdles of the college application process.”

Alverno has strong ties to the Milwaukee community. Sixty-one percent of its undergraduate students come from the city of Milwaukee, while 76 percent come from Milwaukee County. In addition, 70 percent of Alverno’s incoming undergraduate students are the first in their families to attend college.

“Alverno College is an excellent fit for MPS graduates because of its strong focus on student success,” said Jennifer Mims-Howell, chief academic officer for MPS. “It creates a space where our students feel seen, supported, and prepared for meaningful careers, all while staying connected to their community.”

Early results are encouraging. The Alverno Direct Admit application was open to MPS juniors from April through June 1. During that period, Alverno received 196 applications —nearly twice the number of MPS applications received the previous year—demonstrating strong interest among MPS students in a more accessible pathway to college.