Graduate on time
A page within Financial Aid
Graduate from
UW-La Crosse On Time
Is it possible to graduate from UW-La Crosse on time?
Definitely. Many UWL students have graduated on time, which equates to approximately four years. Following some basic guidelines and planning carefully can assist students in graduating as soon as they are able to.
Advantages to graduating on time
Perhaps the most practical reason for graduating college on time is the money students and their families will save by not paying for extra semesters. Students can save not only on tuition and fees but also on rent, food, and other living expenses.* If students are using student loans to finance their education, they'll be borrowing less in loans and will keep from going further in debt. Graduating on time will allow students to enter graduate school or the work force sooner than others who take longer to complete their degree.
In addition, students will find information about UWL's 4 year graduation agreement on the Admissions website.
*One extra year of tuition and fees for a Wisconsin resident are approximately equal to:
- 1 used mid-sized car
- 7 round trips from Minneapolis to London
- 11 of the latest iPhones
- 22 weekly full-time paychecks at $10/hour
- 120 concert tickets ($75 each)
- 4475 gallons of gas ($2/gallon)
Basic guidelines
Develop an academic plan and stick to it.
Stay on top of where you are at in your academic plan so you don’t fall behind.
Complete a course load of 15 to 18 credits each semester.
UWL requires a minimum of 120 credits to graduate. Any credits between 12 and 18 taken during a semester are essentially at no cost so be sure to take as many credits as you can handle each semester.
Decide on an academic major early and stick with it.
It may still be possible to graduate in four years if you change your major, particularly if you change your major early, but with each change comes the possibility of stretching out your time in school.
If you don’t know what you want to major in,
complete your general education requirements first.
Coordinate your general education courses with your academic major requirements.
Take courses that meet more than one requirement.
- For example: Psychology 100 is a general education course that also applies to the requirements for a Psychology major and/or minor. It applies to many health-related areas, as well.
Be aware of pre-requisites.
Plan to take pre-requisite courses early in your career and determine if these pre-requisites might also meet general education requirements.
Check with your department about courses that might not be offered every semester.
Some courses are only offered in the fall or in the spring. Be aware of when they are offered
so you can correctly work them into your academic plan.
Make full use of the academic advising and tutoring available to you.
Be sure to come prepared when you meet with your adviser. The Academic Advising Center is available to assist students.
Avoid repeating courses.
Keeping current in all of your assignments and readings and attending all class sessions works wonders toward getting a good grade in the first place.
Avoid dropping classes unless absolutely necessary.
Dropping courses wastes both time and money.
Be familiar with the syllabus for every class
and understand the professor’s requirements and expectations.
Enroll in Summer and/or Winter Intersession courses to catch up or get ahead.
If you fall behind in your academic plan, taking courses in Summer/Winter Session can help to make up the credits.
Make your academics your highest priority.
Attend all classes and complete all assignments.
Put your efforts and hours into school.
Schedule your time to fit your academic plan and plan your job and extracurricular activities
around that schedule, not the other way around. Your education is Job #One!
Seek help if you are having any problems.
Disability Resources Services Office is one good source for assistance.
Pay your university bill on time.
Paying your bill for the current term in a timely manner will allow you to register at your scheduled registration time. Not registering at your scheduled time may mean that you will not be able to enroll in the classes you need.