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La Crosse , WI
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public university located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Established in 1909, it is one of the 13 universities in the University of Wisconsin System. Offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, UW-La Crosse is known for its strong academic reputation and commitment to student success.
UW-La Crosse is recognized for its excellence in education, particularly in the fields of health sciences, business, and education. The university's health science programs, including nursing, physical therapy, and exercise science, are highly regarded and have received national recognition. Additionally, the College of Business Administration offers a variety of majors such as accounting, finance, marketing, and human resources, preparing students for successful careers in the business world. The School of Education is known for producing high-quality teachers through its comprehensive teacher education programs.
Beyond academics, UW-La Crosse provides a vibrant campus life with a wide range of opportunities for students to get involved. With over 200 student organizations, including academic clubs, cultural and diversity groups, and athletic teams, students have numerous options to pursue their passions and develop leadership skills. The university also boasts state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Student Union, fieldhouse, and wellness center, which offer a variety of amenities and resources to support students' well-being and overall college experience. With its strong academic programs and vibrant campus life, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offers a well-rounded education for students seeking a fulfilling college experience.
Located in La Crosse, WI, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public university. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 81%. The freshman retention rate at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is 86.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 71%.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Quick Facts
9,513
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
71%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most relevant information you should know about admission at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 5,398 in 2025. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them.
Test Scores
1.12% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 33.03% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 15.38% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 30.77% between 1,200 and 1,399, 42.31% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 11.54% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 13.02, 45.96 between 24-29, 37.89 in the range between 18-23, and 3.13 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 25 while the average GPA was 3.64. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into University of Wisconsin-La Crosse; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 598 and an average SAT Math score of 608.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was 86.7% in 2025, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 71%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2025 was 10,459.
That year, the institution had 19% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 9,513, 63 of which were international students. 299 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 3,973 male and 5,405 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 183 Asian students and 58 Afro-American students in 2025. 364 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 286 identified with more than one race. The school also had 4 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 13 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 104 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse that the majority of students face.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was $7,884 per academic year. If you only wanted a dormitory room, you had to pay $4,693 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Room and Board | $ 7,884 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for many students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 762 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $8,960 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
2,239 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 2,894. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $7,237,102, and state $4,745,220. The students of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $2,214,344, and external in the amount of $3,828,256.
$1,687
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 274 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 122 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $7,237,102 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $78,827. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $1,234,338. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $2,293,660 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was 20:1: that means 20 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 603 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 288 male and 314 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some info about students' life at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Its campus spans 128 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 201. That includes sororities and fraternities. If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse band or chorus. For those drawn to acting, there is a drama club where you can participate. You have a talent for media and communication? University of Wisconsin-La Crosse publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
All in all, campus life at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Career Counselling
At University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is located in La Crosse, WI.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is 81%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is 86.7%.
Contact Information
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
1725 State St
La Crosse , WI
54601-3742
608 785-8000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.