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Graduate on time

A page within Financial Aid

Graduate from UWL On Time

Is it possible to graduate from UWL 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.

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. Make sure you are aware of all your degree requirements, course pre-requisites, seasonal course requirements, and other graduation requirements so nothing sneaks up on you.

Take enough credits to stay on track.

UWL requires a minimum of 120 credits to graduate. Any credits above full-time enrollment (12 credits) are essentially at no additional cost. A good goal is to take around 15 credits a semester. Remember to consider the credit-load and intensity level of the courses you're taking when registering for classes.

Seek help if you're struggling.

Things happen. Keeping college as your number one priority can be easier said than done. There are many resources on campus to help support you through whatever you are facing. The Student Life Office, the ACCESS Center, Student Support Services, and the Counseling and Testing Center are all great resources. Reaching out to your professors and letting them know your situation can also help equip them to best support you and help you success in your courses.

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. This will help you stay on track to graduate even if you change your major later down the line.

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.

Try not to repeat courses.

The UWL technically allows students to retake a course as many times as they want until they receive a passing grade (a "C" or higher), but doing this can have consequences to your financial aid. For financial aid purposes, students are only allowed to repeat a course once after they receive a passing grade for those credits to be aid-eligible. This may result in students being considered below full-time for financial aid purposes, even if they are enrolled in 12 credits.

Repeating a course may also affect whether you are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

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. If you have questions, ask!

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.

Try to attend all classes and complete all assignments. Put in your best effort to succeed.

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!

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.

One extra year of tuition and fees for a Wisconsin resident is equal to about:

  • 14 round trip flights from Minneapolis to London
  • 12 of the latest iPhones
  • 25 weekly full-time paychecks at $10/hour
  • 135 concert tickets ($75 each)
  • 3,373 gallons of gas ($3/gallon)