Campus Connection

No. 4 among Midwestern public universities

  U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 America’s Best Colleges ranks UW-La Crosse as the state’s best and the No. 4 public university in its list of Best Regional Universities in the Midwest. It’s the 16^th year in a row that UWL has remained the state’s top-ranked in the UW System and among the top 4 in the Midwest. Also, UWL listed among “A-Plus Schools for B Students,” which identifies “where non-superstars have a decent shot at being accepted and thriving” and where spirit and hard work make a difference.   “We're delighted to be the No. 1 comprehensive university in the UW System and among the top four regional universities in the country,” says Chancellor Joe Gow. “This is wonderful external recognition of the outstanding work being done each day by our faculty, staff and students. We're very proud of this respected reputation."   The No. 4 ranking, which it has held three years in a row, continues UWL’s trend of being ranked among the Midwest’s top four public universities for the past 16 years. Truman State University in Missouri remained on top. The University of Northern Iowa was No. 2, followed by Grand Valley State University in Michigan as No. 3.   Among all private and public Midwestern universities, UWL was in a four-way tie for No. 31. The regional category includes institutions providing a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs.   The rankings are a thorough examination of how more than 1,400 accredited, four-year schools compare on a set of up to 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving. Get complete listings.