Represent UWL

Who are we? (or, what is our "elevator speech?")

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a top-rated, comprehensive University of Wisconsin campus, located in the beautiful Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. Known for scholarship, academic rigor, physical activity and a close-knit community, UWL remains dedicated to its century-old mission to train the whole person — “the mind and body.” We offer more than 130 undergraduate through doctoral programs to more than 10,000 students.

UWL has earned a strong reputation nationally for factors such as graduation rates, return on investment and great outcomes for low-income students. It is the No. 2 public college in Wisconsin on Forbes’ 2023 America's Top Colleges list. And it is Wisconsin's top-ranked public university with fewer than 25,000 students, according to U.S. News & World Report's list of the Best National Universities.

What are we doing?*

We're keeping students in college and helping them graduate faster. The number of students who stayed at UWL from their first to second year was 86.5 % for fall 2022 first-year, full-time undergraduate students. This "retention rate" is good indicator of how students feel about their first-year experience, and UWL's has consistently been among the strongest in the UW System. UWL has held the highest retention rate of all UW comprehensive campuses for the last decade.

Likewise, our six-year graduation rate for students beginning in fall 2016 was 70 percent, which is high when compared with other higher education institutions. Nationally, the six-year graduation rate from four-year institutions is about 65% for the cohort that entered in 2015.

How are we doing it?*

We attract high-ability, goal-oriented students eager to learn from caring faculty and staff. Our 2023-24 first-year class has 2,294 students, 4.3% higher than the target. Students learn directly from professors, not assistants. They benefit from small classes (a 19:1 student-faculty ratio) and conduct hands-on undergraduate research.

What drives us?

Our motto: Mens Corpusque, Latin for "mind and body." Our faculty and staff are dedicated to the whole education of our students, giving them an outstanding academic education, along with an appreciation for physical and recreational well-being to make them great, well-rounded global citizens.

Why are we distinct?*

Each year we recruit impressive students. In our fall 2022 freshman class:

• Average ACT score was 24
• 54 % graduated in the top 25 % of their high school class
• Median class rank was in the 76th percentile

About UWL

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, founded in 1909, is one of the 13 four-year institutions in the Universities of Wisconsin. UWL offers 130+ degree programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels in arts, social science and humanities; science and health; business; and education. UW-La Crosse — www.uwlax.edu — has remained the state’s top-ranked comprehensive campus in the UW System for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report.

About UWL graduate studies

UWL offers more than 20 graduate programs, including online, on-campus and blended programs in the areas of business and management; higher education; K-12 education; science, engineering and math; clinical fields; and health and wellness. Learn more about graduate programs.