UW-Eau Claire vs. UW-La Crosse

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Wisconsin Eau Claire in Eau Claire, WI with University of Wisconsin La Crosse in La Crosse, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin La Crosse is larger than UW-Eau Claire based on total student enrollment (10,446 students vs. 10,049 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, WI (Small City setting); University of Wisconsin La Crosse is in La Crosse, WI (Small City setting).
• University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire 19:1; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 20:1.

UW-Eau Claire vs. UW-La Crosse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UW-Eau Claire or UW-La Crosse? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin La Crosse than UW-Eau Claire ($14,712 vs. $15,151).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 3.1% lower than at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire ($8,702 vs. $8,978).
• University of Wisconsin La Crosse is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-Eau Claire (about $428 more per year; $10,070.00 vs. $9,642.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at UW-La Crosse than at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (about $289 more per year; $19,517.00 vs. $19,228.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (52% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Eau Claire students is 25.9% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin La Crosse students ($5,663 vs. $4,499).

UW-Eau Claire vs. UW-La Crosse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UW-Eau Claire or UW-La Crosse? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UW-La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire.

• Incoming UW-La Crosse students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at UW-Eau Claire).
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire 21/26; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 22/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UW-Eau Claire - Test optional; UW-La Crosse - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UW-Eau Claire Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at UW-Eau Claire (3.59).
• UW-Eau Claire has a higher acceptance rate (82.3%) than UW-La Crosse (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.1% at UW-Eau Claire vs. 43.2% at UW-La Crosse.

UW-Eau Claire vs. UW-La Crosse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Wisconsin La Crosse's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Eau Claire's (65%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than UW-Eau Claire graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,500 vs. $47,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire graduates have the same median loan debt ($23,250 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Wisconsin La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($240 vs. $240).
• More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UW-Eau Claire students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.