About University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Founded in 1909, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. is a Public college. Located in Wisconsin, which is a city setting in Wisconsin, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 9,751 full time undergraduate students, and 886 full time graduate students.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 19:1. There are 486 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate74%
Application Deadline
Application Fee50
SAT Range
ACT Range23-27

Admissions at UW-L are considered Selective, with ,116% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 32 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

98% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 70% were in the top quarter, and 24% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

2%
“We”re apathetic”
38%
“We know about current events and vote”
57%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
2%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
4%
“We save it for the classroom”
20%
“Sometimes, but not often”
59%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
17%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
6%
“I only go out in groups”
38%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
56%
“I feel extremely safe”
54%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
27%
“We bought the gear”
19%
“We live for the big game”
17%
“It”s not really our thing”
23%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
53%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
6%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
67%
“They keep regular office hours”
32%
“They”re always available”
6%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
64%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
30%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
1%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
9%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
35%
“We only party on weekends”
56%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
6%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
57%
“There might be people who do”
33%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
4%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
2%
“We”re apathetic”
38%
“We know about current events and vote”
57%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
2%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
4%
“We save it for the classroom”
20%
“Sometimes, but not often”
59%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
17%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
6%
“I only go out in groups”
38%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
56%
“I feel extremely safe”
54%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
27%
“We bought the gear”
19%
“We live for the big game”
17%
“It”s not really our thing”
23%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
53%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
6%
“We”re a very artistic group”
1%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
67%
“They keep regular office hours”
32%
“They”re always available”
6%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
64%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
30%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
1%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
9%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
35%
“We only party on weekends”
56%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
6%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
57%
“There might be people who do”
33%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
4%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    214 Students rated on-campus housing 3.6 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    171 Students rated off-campus housing 3.7 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    219 Students rated campus food 3 stars. 6 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    227 Students rated campus facilities 4.2 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    227 Students rated class size 4.4 stars. 53 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    227 Students rated school activities 4.4 stars. 51 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    227 Students rated local services 4 stars. 41 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    227 Students rated academics 4.3 stars. 52 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?

108 Students rated University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Nathan - 01/17/2024

I Love UW- La Crosse, I feel that I am important on campus and set up to succeed . There are so many resources on campus that I am able to use and it is a relief that I do not have to pay for those resources either. And for the most part, the professors are very accessible and respond quickly and have a lot of office hours that I am able to go to if I need help on an assignment or just a question about what we are currently doing in class.

Anna - 12/28/2023

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a place I am proud to call home. During my time here I have had amazing experiences and as I get closer to graduation I can confidently say I have learned a lot during my time at this school. I would recommend it to anyone.

Kerry - 12/11/2023

When I came to tour the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, my first thought was that the location is beautiful. You can see the bluffs when you’re walking from building to building. While the aesthetics of a campus shouldn’t be the deciding factor, it does motivate me to go to class and walk around. The reason I chose to attend here is because of the physician assistant graduate program. I believe that the academics surpass sufficient here. One of my biggest concerns when I was doing college planning during my senior year of high school was the class sizes and feeling insignificant. I grew up going to the same rural high school my entire life. My high school graduating class had roughly 60 students. So, the idea of going from a high school with a total of a few hundred students to a university with 10,000 students was very daunting. Nonetheless, I put on a brave face and decided I wouldn’t let that stop me. My nerves were relieved when I learned that the student-faculty ratio is 19:1, meaning that the class sizes were not that far off from what I already had experienced my whole life. However, something that I do not like here is the food. The on-campus dining options include the dining hall and a handful of restaurants in the student union (which aren’t open on the weekend!) Regardless, I’ve never gone hungry here. Prior to moving in, I had some concerns about the alcohol consumption around me. There’s a stigma around college students and their relationship with underage drinking habits. While a lot of students do drink alcohol here, I’ve never had problems with saying no. You won’t be judged for not drinking and you will still be able to make friends! For example, I’ve made friends by joining clubs and organizations, which there are plenty of here! In fact, UWL has over 200 student organizations. If somehow you don’t find something that you want to join, you can form your own club. Some other highlights of this school include the resources. There are plenty of offices here that can help you, such as the ACCESS center, Center for Transformative Justice, It Makes Cent$, the scholarship resource center, and countless others. I could not imagine attending a different college!

Brenna - 06/28/2023

It's not the school that I though it was but really made it feel like home with the great connections that I made. You can access almost anything if you're down for 15-20min walk. Definetly more of a party scene but that all depends on who you choose to befriend. Overall it's a great school with a little for everyone. Biggest downside is the lack of diversity in the student body but there are lots of cultural celebrations held in the Union and clubs for all types of people.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is 74%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    The advice I will give myself will be that college isn't what the teacher in highschool tell you and that the professor in college are more lenient. Do your homework even though the professor doesn't assign it and study for exams. Take advantage of the services the college provides for the students, also try to make as many new friends along the way so that later on you can ask them for help when needed.

    Read all  251 answers
  3. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    My school is a lot of fun people are friendly and the faculty makes it fun to learn. It is also very competitive

    Read all  54 answers
  4. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    that when you transfer in they reset your GPA to 0.

    Read all  54 answers
  5. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The worst aspect of UW-La Crosse are the program changes. The head departments have recently mandated that students take certain classes towards their major, and then they change the requirements for those classes. Students often take classes that later on do not count toward their major, so they have to pay tuition and stay for extra semesters to make up for those classes that were lost.

    Read all  52 answers
  6. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates are all driven, with the strong ability to succeed in whatever they set their hearts on.

    Read all  43 answers
  7. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    One who shouln't attend UW La Crosse would be somone who doesn't like to get involved in extra curricular activities. Also, students are generally very active and fit on campus so if working out or recreational activities are not enjoyable to you, you may want to consider a different campus. UW La Crosse is a very highly ranked in academics so if you are not willing to work hard and keep up with school work to get a quality education then do not come to UWL. And finally, do not come here in search of a large campus.

    Read all  42 answers
  8. What's unique about your campus?

    The best thing about my school is the textbook rental system. We pay to rent our textbooks for the semester, return them at the end, and our bookstore will buy back any other materials you had to buy additionally. This rental system is substantially cheaper than buying textbooks nowadays, plus you do not have to worry about what to do with all your old textbooks after the class ends!

    Read all  41 answers
  9. What kind of person should attend this school?

    I think this school is great for anyone. UW La Crosse has a very friendly environment and the professors are ready to help whenever needed. If you want to be successful in college I believe this school is the one you should attend. There are tons of activities for one to get involved and be an active student here on campus.

    Read all  36 answers
  10. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    My school is small and in a beauiful city. It only takes ten minutes to walk across campus, which is wonderful in the winter. Most people on campus are happy and will smile at you as you walk to class.

    Read all  34 answers
  11. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    I am a new student to this school as a junior, so the most frustrating part is feeling overwhelmed with trying to figure out where to find information about anything and everything.

    Read all  33 answers
  12. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    I tell everyone how beautiful it is in La Crosse and how wonderful the people are.

    Read all  32 answers
  13. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    UW-La Crosse is best known for it's active campus. No matter the weather there are always people running or exercising. Once the snow melts and the temperature raises, everyone on campus is outside. People are always playing games like frisbee or football. We are also active in our thoughts and emotions. If someone sees something on campus that they believe reflects our campus poorly, they feel comfortable doing something to stop it. At UW-La Crosse we do not believe in letting live pass you by, we are active and jump right into life.

    Read all  28 answers
  14. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    UW-L is a nice school in a really scenic area of Wisconsin. It's relatively small compared with other UW-campuses such as Madison, Whitewater, or Eau Claire, but students have smaller class sizes are more than likely going to get to know their professors personally. Top majors here are biology, pre-physical therapy (pre-anything medical, really), and teaching, although there are plenty of other majors personally. School spirit is definitely lacking-- although pretty much all students are athletic (i.e. club sports, itramurals, working out at the REC), being a Division III school, competitive athletics are not a big deal here. For nature lovers, La Crosse has plenty of trees, lots of trails and parks, and of course, the bluffs. Downtown La Crosse has lots to see and do-- the Rivoli Theatre plays movies at a very low cost, the Pearl ice cream shop is not to be missed, and the Root Note coffee shop is a great place to listen to jazz or just be a college hipster in general.

    Read all  2 answers
  15. What's the Greek scene like?

    Although I am not the most reliable source, as I am not a member of any kind of sorority, Greek life is generally regarded as unimportant at UW La Crosse. I'm not even sure how many social sororities or fraternities there are, but I am pretty certain it's one, maybe two each. I do know a number of people who've "gone Greek", but it's a pretty small portion of the students on campus. It does seem like those who choose to join sororities/fraternities have fun, but again, if you're looking for a campus with super involved Greek life, La Crosse isn't it.

    Read all  2 answers
  16. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Popular student groups include Student Association (the student governance organization), various REC sport activities (intramurals, the rock climbing wall, working out, ZUMBA, yoga, etc.), CRU (campus crusade for Christ), College Democrats & College Republicans, Environmental Council, Newmann Center (for Catholic Students), and RHAC (the Residence hall council).

    Read all  1 answers

Student Body

Students

56%

female

44%

male

9,751

Total Undergrad Enrollment

886

Total Grad Students

19%

Out-Of-State

80%

In-State

1%

International

Organizations

185

Student Organizations

4

Fraternities

2

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

30%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
2%
% Black or African-American
1%
% Hispanic/Latino
4%
% White or Caucasian
89%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

83% of students attending University of Wisconsin-La Crosse receive some sort of financial aid. 21% were awarded federal grants. While 57% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$17,612

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$120

Books and Supplies

$6,155

Room and Board

23,887

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$9,233
$30 - $48K
$10,639
$48 - $75K
$14,121
$75 - $110K
$16,793
$110K & UP
$17,296

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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