Posted 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2, 2023
UW-La Crosse is No. 2 public college in Wisconsin on America’s Top Colleges List
UW-La Crosse is ranked the No. 2 public college in Wisconsin on Forbes’ 2023 America's Top Colleges list. The annual list showcases 500 of the finest U.S. colleges that have demonstrated impressive graduation rates, high graduate salaries and great outcomes for low-income students.
“This impressive ranking is a powerful reflection of the great work our faculty and staff do each day to ensure our UWL students have an outstanding academic experience,” says UWL Chancellor Joe Gow. “Their dedication to student success is an inspiration.”
UWL boasts:
- A high median salary of $102,300 for alumni with 10 or more years of experience per Payscale
- Strong financial support with 77% of the student body receiving financial aid
- A retention rate of 84 % (percentage of students who continue from freshman to sophomore year)
“Prospective students and families consider many factors in the college search process. A campus visit is often the best way to understand the many reasons why UWL is a great option,” says UWL Assistant Vice Chancellor for Admissions & Recruitment Corey Sjoquist. “The recent ranking by Forbes magazine adds to that list of excellent reasons students choose UWL. It is exciting for UWL to be recognized for its return on investment, student success and alumni influence.”
Forbes ranks schools based on several factors:
- 20% graduates’ salaries
- 15% graduates’ debt
- 15% graduation rate
- 15% return on investment
- 10% student retention
- 10% academic success
- 15% Forbes American Leaders List. (A count of how many list makers each school produced on the most recent Forbes 30 Under 30, Forbes 400, Richest Self-Made Women and Most Powerful Women lists, in addition to other measures of alumni success.)
The top Wisconsin public school was UW-Madison. After UW-La Crosse in the No. 2 spot, UW-Platteville, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Whitewater filled out the top five Wisconsin public colleges.
Princeton University led this year’s Forbes rankings overall. View the full list.
UWL continues to remain a top- ranked university on other prominent lists as well, including being named the top-ranked public university in Wisconsin with fewer than 25,000 students on U.S. News & World Report’s national universities list.