University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI, USA

Reviews

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Ally from Madison, WI

a current student here
11 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
For a smaller university, UWEC offers a really wide range of classes. You can study anatomy, geology, and modern dance all in one day if you want. Professors are very passionate and really go out of their way to make sure students understand material. You will write a lot of papers (EC is known for it) but the practice and feedback is very beneficial. Nursing program is extremely competitive... beware if you're considering that as your major.
Am enjoying being here
Campus is BEAUTIFUL, especially in fall and spring. Freshmen have a great view of the Chippewa River from the dorms! Weekends are very eventful and parties are plentiful. Great place for active people... lots of hiking/biking trails, workout facilities, floating down the river, etc...
Bang for the buck
College is never cheap, but costs are very reasonable (compare to UW-Madison) for the quality of education and the college experience you will receive. Lots of financial aid is available if you take the time to apply for it.
Tips for prospective students
- If living in dorms, choose Towers! (largest dorm, very easy to meet people, the hub of on-campus living)
- Visit the campus when classes are in session... it makes a huge difference!
- You WILL make friends and you WILL have the time of your life! Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and try something new... chances are you'll be glad you did.
Great for these types of students
- Athletes (lots of intramurals and sports clubs) /active people!
- Musicians... music program is great and there are loads of performances to attend/participate in
- People who are outgoing and like to party
- People who want an academic challenge without the pressure of a Big Ten school

John from Glenwood City, WI

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I not only do I enjoy going to each class that I have taken at UW-EC, but I also enjoy learning from and talking to the professors. Every professor that I have even simply talked to is very enthusiastic with their subject. If a question is asked that the professor does not know, he or she will find someone who does know the answer, and will relay the message for you. In every class, I find that I want to learn more.
Am enjoying being here
I love going to school in Eau Claire. The school itself is great, but so is the city of Eau Claire. Every year it is rated as one of the safest places to live in the nation. The campus is gorgeous. It has sprawling, open areas and Putnam Park right in the middle of everything, which is a nature area owned by the college. Also, its so easy to make friends here. Its a fun, beautiful place to be.
Bang for the buck
The level of education at UW-EC is outstanding, especially when compared to other schools in the University of Wisconsin system such as Madison, La Crosse, or Milwaukee.
Tips for prospective students
If you live on campus, go for towers. Its an awesome place, just to hang out with friends.
If you're looking for an off campus place to live, there are tons of affordable apartments or efficiencies.
The student center has wonderful food, make sure to hit that up.
The University also offers a huge range of classes. There is something for everyone here.
Great for these types of students
The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a great school for anyone who wants to get a great education in a great city.

Brandon from Eau Claire, WI

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Besides being surrounded by natural beauty, UW-Eau Claire also has the perk of being a very accepting place to new students. From the first day I stepped onto campus I felt very welcomed by both the faculty and students alike; it is a very safe environment to live in. If you are looking for a school who values excellence and feels like home, look no further than UW-Eau Claire.
Tips for prospective students
Try not to be shy the first few weeks when activities are going on to meet people. Embrace those ice breakers and gatherings and make some connections! While most of the people will come and go, chances are you will meet some of your new best friends in the first few days. Do not pass up the opportunity.
Academic Rigor
Depending on your class load each semester, the UW-Eau Claire can have a fairly rigorous academic schedule for you. I do not mean that in a bad way however. While there is a fair amount of course work to be done in certain classes, it is exactly that experience that produces the best scholars from this university.
Dorm Life
Living in the dorms at UW-Eau Claire has been an excellent experience. My wing is filled with wonderful individuals who have turned into my best friends, and it has all the perks of living at home. The bathrooms and showers are just outside my door, there is a free weight room in the basement, and a kitchen for use as well. With all the perks of the dorms, why live anywhere else?
Food and Dining
Dining at Eau Claire has been much better than I expected. With the meal plan I have right now, I have unlimited access to the all-you-can-eat restaurant on upper campus, seven days a week.

Kate from Madison, WI

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
One of the most beautiful campuses I've ever been on! All the professors are passionate about what they teach and are always willing to go the extra mile to help. Great location- close to shopping, eating, and outdoor activities.
Tips for prospective students
GO HERE! This is an amazing college with a ton of opportunities. Get involved and fall in love with UWEC.
Academic Rigor
Wide variety of challenging courses offered.
Food and Dining
Davies has a lot of options- both healthy and not (because we all need some junk food every once in awhile). So happy we have Sushi on campus!
What to do for fun
Float down the river, hike at Mount Simon, visit the Leinies Lodge, music festival, the farmers market, shopping.... the list is endless.
Bang for the buck
Tranferred here from UW-Madison. I still feel like I am getting the same high quality education for way less money!
Clubs and Activities
SO MANY CLUBS! There is a club for just about anyone and anything...if there is not, you have the ability to start your own!
Greek Life
Greek life is amazing on campus. The fraternities and sororities hold high values of philanthropy and academics as well as maintaining positive connections with both the school and community. One of the best choices I made at this college was to join a sorority!
Campus Safety
I have never felt scared here in my life.

Allison from Minnesota

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am majoring in French and Psychology, and the professors in my departments are wonderful, especially in psychology. In general, professors and advisers are eager to help and UWEC is truly a teaching, not research, college, so the professors are really there for you. I had a bad professor or two, but they were definitely the exception, not the rule.
Am enjoying being here
Unfortunately, there is a lot of drinking at UWEC and I felt extremely uncomfortable with the partying culture. There are many many things to do besides drink, but I found my peers opted out of more productive activities to drink.
Bang for the buck
Compared to other universities, UWEC is a very high quality institution for the price (for my fellow Minnesotans- it's like getting U of MN quality for Mankato prices!)
Tips for prospective students
Never be afraid to approach professors because they genuinely care and want to help. Also, a more general tip, check your email every day because things like class cancellations and tuition bills are sent via email and you do not want to miss them!
Great for these types of students
UWEC is a great university for music and education, but also those who are diligent enough to work in an environment with lots of distractions!

Hannah from Chippewa Falls, WI

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Eau Claire is so friendly: students, professors, townsfolk. I thought I'd be transferring after the first year, and when it came time to decided I realized I really didn't want to. So, my professors helped me find a way to stay.
Tips for prospective students
Get in Honors if possible: class priority and free printing are HUGE! Also, try not to leave your roommate up to chance.
Academic Rigor
This really depends on classes. Honors are easier in my opinion since class size is small and the professors trust more.
Dorm Life
This might be because I got a really weird roommate I don't exactly get along with and the basement is a little sketchier than the above ground. Bathrooms are a bit outdated but overall dorms are MUCH better than commuting.
Food and Dining
They don't offer that much variety when it comes to breakfast. Hot breakfast also doesn't begin until 10 am on weekends. They have a decent assortment of healthy options including vegan and such. The lower campus meals taste amazing but aren't healthy and the upper campus are pretty good.
What to do for fun
There are a lot of things going on. There's school sports, intramural sports, so many clubs I couldn't name 1%, events, a hang out with pool and such, free group fitness classes (highly recommend Zumba). Then dorm wings have events too and Eau Claire actually has a lot going on.
Bang for the buck
For the amount I paid so far, I'm getting a great education and a lot of random perks.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The high ropes course looks amazing.
Great for these types of students
Eau Claire is mostly for teaching/English/childhood/performance kinds of majors if I'm being honest. However, I'm going for criminal justice and psychology and I guarantee you I'll have no issue getting into a graduate problem. Study abroad program is strong. So are the ties and connections this school has.
Clubs and Activities
Greek life is kind of weak, but there are a lot of clubs/group/activities.
Greek Life
Have it, but everyone really ignores it.
Campus Safety
I've never had or seen any problems. Stay off water street and use common sense and you'll be just fine.

Anonymous from Eau Claire, WI

a past student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Lovely, politically moderate, research oriented, undergraduate focused.
Tips for prospective students
Get involved in whatever organizations interest you. That is the best way to learn things outside the classroom, meet people who aren't in your classes or dorm, etc.

Take advantage of the accessibility of professors. They will be the ones assisting you with research as a student, and will provide future graduate school or job recommendations for you.

Get to know the surrounding community.
Academic Rigor
Decent amount of work, but not crazy. No unmeetable expectations.
Food and Dining
Fair amount of options. More now than there used to be, especially for vegetarians, gluten-free, organic.
What to do for fun
Kubb, float down the river, join a band, biking (nice bike trails), gardening (fair amount of gardens in Eau Claire, on campus and off), music festivals, farmers market.
Bang for the buck
Tuition will always be on the rise, but overall the prices is not bad here. Off campus housing is cheap, though low-quality, students get a fair amount of perks, access to professors, smallish class sizes, mostly knowledgeable professors.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The Gum Tree - chew some gum, spit it out, and stick it on a tree on upper campus.

Get your hands on a shopping cart and ride it down The Hill.

Use the rocks near the river to spell out strange things for people walking on the footbridge above to see.
Great for these types of students
Hipsters.

Christians.

Music majors.
Clubs and Activities
You have a good chance of finding at least one org that suits your interests. You get out of it what you put in.
Campus Safety
A few homeless hang here, and there's an occasional incident, but very rarely. Overall a very safe campus for most so long as you use common sense - people often feel so safe here they tend to get careless.

Hannah from Brooklyn Park, MN

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire has great faculty, great students, and great classes. The faculty is always willing to help students with questions, and are here to help them succeed. Students on campus are personable, and want to make great friends.
Tips for prospective students
Be prepared to work hard! UW - Eau Claire has excellent and challenging programs.
Join lots of clubs or extracurricular activities. I joined a few my sophomore year, but I wish I would have joined them earlier.
Don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. College is a lot different than high school, so be prepared to do things you might not have done in high school.
Academic Rigor
The academic rigor is definitely difficult. Even though tuition is relatively inexpensive, the classes are difficult and you learn a lot. Some professors are better than others, obviously, as it is with any school. Just be prepared to work hard!
Dorm Life
Dorm life is fun! I have lived in the dorms for my 2 years here, and I am living in the dorm this semester as well. I met some of my best friends in the dorms, and we plan to live together in the fall of our senior year as well. Get involved in the dorms and make tons of friends!
Food and Dining
The food and dining is not spectacular at UWEC. They have fresh fruit and vegetables, but it isn't always actually fresh. Sometimes the apples and pears and very under or overripe. During weekends, there aren't as many options in the cafeteria. With the new student center, the meal plans have changed, and the staff hasn't been too willing to let people change them if they aren't happy.
What to do for fun
Downtown Eau Claire is fun! There is a mall near campus, and the bus can take students there for free with their blugold ID. A lot of food areas are near the mall as well. Water Street is known for it's bars and college-like atmosphere, and some students may find fun things to do on Water Street. Other than that, there are a few towns not too far from Eau Claire. Campus activities are plentiful as well, and those are enjoyable to go to!
Bang for the buck
Tuition is relatively inexpensive for Eau Claire, but you definitely get a quality education! My parents enjoy the price that they pay for my schooling versus my sister, who attends a private university.
Clubs and Activities
There are LOTS of fun activities and clubs on campus! There is a skydiving club, IT club, Colleges Against Cancer (CAC), College Democrats and Republicans; basically any club you could think of! If students want to start clubs, it's not that difficult either.
Campus Safety
I always feel safe on campus. All the dorms have card swipers that students must swipe their blugold card through in order to enter the building. Each door has a special button combination (numbers 1-5) that they must type in to enter their room. Only roommates know these combinations, unless students decide to share with friends.

Marie from Minnesota

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
uwec is a really nice place to go to school. eau caire is a lovely town with a lot to do outdoors when it's nice out. the university offers many ways to get involved on campus and is very helpful with any questions you may have about your schooling.
Tips for prospective students
take a tour! there's no better way to see if a school is for you than to go and look for yourself. and ask questions when you do. we have a huge hill here that you'll be using every day, so come and see if you're up for the challenge!
Academic Rigor
in my experience so far, academics are very manageable as long as you stay on top of your work.
Dorm Life
i've been pleased with the dorm life. i live in towers north and it's a nice place to be, it's quite busy and loud on weekends however. maybe you will like that though. the dorm life is for some people and not for others, but it is a nice way to get to know people.
Food and Dining
the food here is good in my opinion. we have a lot of options and the most common meal plan is an all-you-can eat. on top of that we are provided a little over a hundred dollars to spend at the sub shops, frozen yogurt place, coffee shop, taco bell, or the on-campus convenience store.
What to do for fun
there are a lot of things to do for fun! on campus you can go to the cabin which i highly recommend. there local bands as well as more well known ones traveling the country play there each friday and saturday night. it's a perfect place to go for a more relaxing night. free movies are also played for students in our on-campus movie theater. we have bowling, air hockey, and pool tables as well. also, we have a dance club here on campus called higherground featuring a dj on friday and saturday nights. off-campus there are a lot of places to go as well. there is a budget theater downtown which only charges $3 for a movie. there is a mall very nearby as well as another movie theater. in the summer there is a farmer's market downtown and for the adventurous types there is tubing on the great chippewa river.

Suet-yee from Madison, WI

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
UWEC is undoubetdly a good school. The professors are always willing to help you, and they want students to stop by the office to ask for help or even just to chat with them a little. The class sizes are a good size, as compared to the large lecture halls in larger schools like Madison. Because of the small class sizes, professors are able to know and help students better. By my first week, all my professors knew my name! The professors themselves have dedication towards teaching, and truly know what they are talking about.
Am enjoying being here
Everyone is really friendly at UWEC. Because of the small size, it is easier to build connections with people - especially if you work on campus where you interact with many students on a daily basis. The campus itself is really beautiful, and the RAs in the dorms are always looking for fun activities for the floors to do so that college can be a richer experience for everyone.
Bang for the buck
UWEC is definitely one of the cheaper schools out there. The education can be comparable to larger schools like Madison, and it is consistently ranked amongst the top Mid-west schools annually. Despite this, the cost for tuition is only around $4,500 a semester for in-state, and around $8,000 for out-of-state as compared to the $10,000+ costs per semester for other larger universities or private schools.
Tips for prospective students
Apply early and make sure to check out all the different scholarship options. Submitting your FAFSA application early is always a good choice. The application process for UWEC is rather seamless, and is actually pretty easy provided that potential students don't procrastinate and wait until the last minute. Make sure references listed are recent ones, and people that will be able to speak about you in a good light - in a rather objective manner.
Great for these types of students
UWEC would be a great option for students who want more 1-on-1 interaction with professors, and prefer a smaller University. It is also an ideal school for those who wish to have a balanced blend between social and academics, and is willing to put forth effort. Provided that effort is put forth, having a fun time while maintaining a decent GPA shouldn't be too hard. It's an A+ school for B students.