University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Admission to the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse is relatively accessible, yet the school commands an unusually strong commitment from admitted applicants. In the 2025 admissions cycle, the university posted an acceptance rate of 75.5 percent, which was higher than 41 percent of peer schools in the all public national universities group. Despite this broad selectivity, accepted students show strong intent to attend: the university's yield rate reached 43.2 percent, higher than 97 percent of peer schools against a peer median of 20.9 percent. In national standing, the school placed at 249 in the 2024 U.S. News rankings after ranking 250 in 2023, while no rank was published for 2027. For prospective applicants, these figures mean that meeting academic requirements provides a favorable chance of acceptance, but applicants should recognize that the student body consists largely of students who actively choose to enroll when accepted.

Applicants considering the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse can gauge their academic readiness by looking at recent standardized test score distributions. For the 2025 entering class, enrolled students who submitted ACT scores posted a composite middle fifty percent range between 22.0 and 27.0. Individual section scores in English and mathematics followed closely aligned spans across the mid-twenties. The proportion of students providing ACT results has decreased over time, dropping to 34 percent of the incoming class in 2025. For prospective students planning their college applications, achieving an ACT composite score within or above this mid-range places a candidate on solid academic footing alongside enrolled peers. Reaching the upper end of that spread helps an applicant stand out during admissions review, while candidates scoring near the lower boundary benefit from presenting a well-rounded academic background across their high school curriculum.

Academic programs at the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse show strong concentration in undergraduate health sciences and professional graduate preparation. In 2025, the top three bachelor's degree majors accounted for 32.2 percent of all undergraduate degrees, led by Exercise Science and Kinesiology, General Psychology, and General Biology. The school's highest-ranked academic offering is at the graduate level, where its Physical Therapy program ranked 48th nationally in U.S. News in 2026. According to earnings data from 2023, undergraduate degree recipients in Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions achieved the highest early career outcomes, with median earnings of $76,812 one year after graduation, closely followed by computer and medical laboratory disciplines. For prospective students, the university offers well-defined vocational utility, particularly in clinical and diagnostic health fields where graduate credentials and regional job earnings align effectively.

The student community at the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse is largely domestic, with total enrollment standing at 10,446 students in 2025. Continuing undergraduates make up the vast majority of the population, alongside 2,325 first-year undergraduates and 945 graduate students. Racial diversity across all levels is modest, as White students represent the vast majority of each academic cohort. Asian students represent small proportions across divisions, accounting for 39 students among freshmen, 134 continuing undergraduates, and 26 graduate students. International representation is also limited across campus, comprising 12 first-year undergraduates and 10 graduate students in 2025. Across degree levels, female enrollment remains strong, constituting over half of undergraduate cohorts and a substantial majority of the graduate division.

Undergraduate enrollment at the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse is overwhelmingly composed of traditional college-age students. In 2025, students aged 18 to 19 represented 44.1 percent of the undergraduate population, while students aged 20 to 21 made up 42 percent. Together with students aged 22 to 24, traditional-age students form virtually the entire undergraduate body, shaping a campus social environment centered on young adult student life. Graduate education follows an early-career pattern, with students aged 22 to 24 making up the largest graduate age group, followed by those aged 25 to 29. This age structure creates a collegiate community where campus housing, academic routines, and student organizations are heavily geared toward early-career and immediate post-secondary learners.

International student enrollment at the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse represents a very small proportion of the campus population and has followed a long-term downward path. In 2025, the undergraduate division enrolled 77 international students, accounting for 0.8 percent of undergraduates. This international share was higher than only 7 percent of peer schools in the all public national universities group. Graduate international enrollment followed a similar trend, totaling 10 international students, or 1.1 percent of graduate students, in 2025. Among graduating students, international representation was similarly low, making up 0.8 percent of bachelor's degree recipients and 1.9 percent of master's degree recipients. Undergraduate international degree recipients were primarily found in General Biology, General Psychology, and Exercise Science and Kinesiology, while master's international graduates appeared in Medical Radiologic Technology.

Families considering the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse have several regional alternatives located across Wisconsin and neighboring Minnesota. Located just 28 kilometers away, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a National University ranked 299 in the 2027 rankings. Approximately 105 kilometers to the east is the state's flagship campus, University of Wisconsin-Madison, which held rank 34 among National Universities in 2027. Also within driving distance in Minnesota are two prominent institutions: Carleton College, a Liberal Arts College located 105.3 kilometers away and ranked 16 in 2027, and St Olaf College, situated 106.5 kilometers away and ranked 49 among Liberal Arts Colleges in 2027. These neighboring institutions provide nearby alternatives ranging from large public research flagships to private liberal arts colleges.

Campus safety records at the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse show that student conduct issues represent the vast majority of reported incidents. In 2025, the campus crime rate per 1,000 students was 14.8, reflecting a steady decline compared to earlier reporting cycles. Looking at category totals from 2023 to 2025, behavioral infractions handled through university disciplinary procedures far outnumbered legal arrests. Alcohol disciplinary referrals accounted for the largest share of reports by a wide margin, totaling 1,155 cases across that three-year span, alongside 237 drug disciplinary referrals. In contrast, criminal arrests and violent offenses remained rare, with stalking, arrests, and sexual misconduct appearing in minimal numbers during the same period. For prospective students and families reviewing campus security, these figures demonstrate that safety concerns on campus are overwhelmingly related to the enforcement of university alcohol policies rather than threats of violent crime.