Think solid B+ to A student. The fall 2025 freshman class averaged a 3.64 high school GPA, and the middle half of test-takers scored 22 to 28 on the ACT. About half ranked in the top quarter of their class. UWEC admitted roughly 88% of applicants for fall 2024. Its fall 2025 report shows a much lower number, which looks more like a change in how applications were counted than a sudden jump in selectivity, so don’t let that one figure scare off a strong student.
About a third of freshmen come from outside Wisconsin, and almost everyone (93%) lives on campus that first year. Admission is rolling, but scholarship deadlines come much earlier than the August 1 admissions cutoff.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at UW-Eau Claire (Read This First)
Minnesota families: the cheap price and the merit money don’t mix. Reciprocity drops tuition to $11,772, but out-of-state merit awards only apply at the nonresident and Midwest Tuition rates. Reciprocity also needs its own application through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
Out-of-state merit runs on unweighted GPA, not test scores. A 3.65 gets $8,000 a year. A 3.64 gets $4,000. That one-hundredth of a point is worth $16,000 over four years.
The Honors $1,000 is a floor, not a bonus. If your student already has the $4,000 or $8,000 out-of-state award, the Honors guarantee adds nothing extra that first year.
December 1 is the real deadline, even though admission runs to August 1. The Blugold Fellowship, Biomedical Innovator Scholars and the best Foundation awards are decided off the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application, and the Fellowship only looks at students admitted by mid-November.
Alumni discount math can backfire. Return to Wisconsin takes 25% off nonresident tuition, but it cancels the out-of-state merit award. For a 3.65+ student, staying on the regular nonresident rate is about $3,300 a year cheaper.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 22-28; SAT: 1050-1280.
Average net price? About $15,151/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes. It participates in Minnesota Reciprocity.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$400 to $1,000 more than the in-state total below.$600 to $1,500 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$19,722
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$10,407
Housing & meals (typical)
$9,315
Total billed cost
$19,722
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$29,989
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$20,674
Housing & meals (typical)
$9,315
Total billed cost
$29,989
That is $10,267 more per year than Wisconsin residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $15,151 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Minnesota residents: Minnesota-Wisconsin Reciprocity sets 2026-27 tuition and fees at $11,772 instead of the $20,674 nonresident rate. You apply through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, separate from your UWEC application, and approval renews each year for the same campus. Midwest Tuition Program: residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota pay $14,654. Return to Wisconsin: children and grandchildren of UWEC graduates who live outside Wisconsin and Minnesota get 25% off nonresident tuition ($15,983). Out-of-state merit awards only apply at the Midwest Tuition Program and nonresident rates.
Which UWEC Price Tag Is Yours? (2026-27 tuition and fees)
Where you live
Tuition & fees
Out-of-state merit?
Wisconsin resident
$10,407
No
Minnesota (reciprocity)
$11,772
No
Midwest Tuition Program states
$14,654
Yes, $4,000/yr at 3.25+
Return to Wisconsin (alumni family)
$15,983
No (reduced or removed)
Everyone else (nonresident)
$20,674
Yes, $4,000 or $8,000/yr
Housing ($5,405 for a standard double) and the Gold Flex meal plan ($3,910) are the same for everyone. Textbook rental is already built into tuition, which is a nice surprise at budget time.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at UW-Eau Claire
Do Minnesota students pay in-state tuition at UW-Eau Claire?
Close to it. Under Minnesota-Wisconsin Reciprocity, Minnesota residents pay $11,772 in tuition and fees for 2026-27 instead of $20,674. It is not automatic: you apply through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, and once approved it renews each year as long as you stay at the same campus. The tradeoff is that reciprocity students can’t get UWEC’s out-of-state merit awards.
Which states get the Midwest Tuition rate?
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota. Those students pay $14,654, and a 3.25+ unweighted GPA adds an automatic $4,000 a year on top, bringing tuition and fees to about $10,654. That’s close to what Wisconsin kids pay.
What is the Blugold Commitment, and is it an extra charge?
It’s a slice of every undergrad’s tuition that pays for research, immersion trips, internships and similar programs. It’s already inside the tuition numbers above, not a separate bill. Students with a Student Aid Index of $7,000 or less who file the FAFSA by July 1 get priority for a Blugold Commitment Grant that covers that slice.
Is the average net price really around $15,151?
That’s the latest federal figure (2023-24) for full-time freshmen who received grant aid, and most of them are Wisconsin residents. It’s a full-year number that includes housing and food. Out-of-state families without much aid will land higher, so run UWEC’s Net Price Calculator with your own numbers.
Is the Wisconsin Tuition Promise available for fall 2027?
As of October 2026, the Universities of Wisconsin had not announced a fall 2027 Tuition Promise cohort. UWEC’s own grants page lists it as available to students who enrolled in 2023 and 2025. Wisconsin families with need should still count on the Wisconsin Grant, Pell and UWEC grants, and watch for an announcement.
Is there a cheaper way to do housing?
Not really for freshmen. About 93% of first-year students live on campus, and $5,405 is the standard double room rate. After freshman year, most students move off campus, and UWEC estimates about $8,068 a year for off-campus food and housing.
September: The Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application opens on Gold for Blugolds.
Mid-November: Be admitted by now to be considered for the Blugold Fellowship.
December 1: Priority scholarship deadline. Biomedical Innovator Scholars, the Blugold Fellowship and the best Foundation awards are decided here.
November to March: Music program auditions (November 7 for winds, brass and percussion; then January 20, February 13 and March 6).
February 1: Final deadline for incoming-student scholarships and the Honors $1,000 guarantee.
April 15: FAFSA priority date. July 1: last call for Blugold Commitment Grant priority.
Parent rule of thumb: treat December 1 as the real deadline, even though admission stays open until August 1.
Automatic Merit Scholarships: UW-Eau Claire
UWEC’s automatic awards are for out-of-state students only, and they’re based on just one thing: your unweighted GPA at the point of admission. No test score, no essay, no separate application. Wisconsin and Minnesota students don’t have an automatic merit grid. Their money comes from the scholarship application, Honors and need-based aid, all covered below.
Your rate
Unweighted GPA
Award / year
Tuition & fees after award
Nonresident
3.65+
$8,000
~$12,674
Nonresident
3.25 to 3.64
$4,000
~$16,674
Midwest Tuition Program
3.25+
$4,000
~$10,654
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Out-of-State Merit Award: Nonresident ($8,000)
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline. Awarded automatically based on your unweighted GPA at the point of admission, so apply for admission early. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$8,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.7+ GPAMust pay the nonresident tuition rate (international F-1 students included). Students in flat-rate programs or returning for a second degree are not eligible.
✚
Stacking & Combining
UWEC does not publish a rule against combining this with Foundation or departmental scholarships; your award letter is the final word. It counts toward the $1,000 First-Year Honors guarantee. If your tuition rate changes to Wisconsin resident, Minnesota Reciprocity, or Return to Wisconsin, this award is reduced or removed.
💡
Strategic Detail
$8,000 per year for first-year students with a 3.65 or higher unweighted GPA. Renewable for up to 3 additional years (4 total) if minimum renewal criteria are met. UWEC does not post the renewal GPA on its incoming scholarship page, so ask Admissions before you commit.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students from outside the Midwest Tuition Program states with a 3.65+ unweighted GPA. Test scores are not part of the formula.
Automatic
Out-of-State Merit Award: Nonresident ($4,000)
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline. Awarded automatically based on your unweighted GPA at the point of admission, so apply for admission early. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPAUnweighted GPA of 3.25 to 3.64. Must pay the nonresident tuition rate (international F-1 students included). Students in flat-rate programs or returning for a second degree are not eligible.
✚
Stacking & Combining
UWEC does not publish a rule against combining this with Foundation or departmental scholarships; your award letter is the final word. It counts toward the $1,000 First-Year Honors guarantee. If your tuition rate changes to Wisconsin resident, Minnesota Reciprocity, or Return to Wisconsin, this award is reduced or removed.
💡
Strategic Detail
$4,000 per year for first-year nonresident students with a 3.25 to 3.64 unweighted GPA. Renewable for up to 3 additional years (4 total) if minimum renewal criteria are met. A 3.65 jumps the award to $8,000, so that last tenth of a point is worth $16,000 over four years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Solid B+ to A- out-of-state students. No test score needed.
Automatic
Out-of-State Merit Award: Midwest Tuition Program ($4,000)
📅 Deadline: No separate deadline. Awarded automatically based on your unweighted GPA at the point of admission, so apply for admission early. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPAResidents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio or South Dakota paying the Midwest Tuition Program rate.
✚
Stacking & Combining
UWEC does not publish a rule against combining this with Foundation or departmental scholarships; your award letter is the final word. It counts toward the $1,000 First-Year Honors guarantee. If your tuition rate changes away from the Midwest Tuition Program rate, this award is reduced or removed.
💡
Strategic Detail
$4,000 per year on top of the already discounted Midwest Tuition rate ($14,654 for 2026-27), which brings tuition and fees to about $10,654. Requires a 3.25+ unweighted GPA. Renewable for up to 3 additional years (4 total) if minimum renewal criteria are met.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
B+ and up students from the ten Midwest Tuition Program states. This is one of the best deals on the page: discounted tuition plus $4,000 a year.
Data last verified Oct 20, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Awards renew for up to three more years if your student meets UWEC’s renewal criteria. The renewal GPA isn’t posted on the incoming scholarship page, so ask Admissions before you sign anything. If your tuition rate changes (say, you later qualify as a Wisconsin resident), the award is reduced or removed.
Automatic Merit: FAQs (UW-Eau Claire)
Do ACT or SAT scores affect UWEC merit scholarships?
Not for the out-of-state awards. They’re based only on unweighted GPA at the point of admission. Scores still matter for automatic Honors invitations, which is a different thing (see the Honors section).
Does UWEC use weighted or unweighted GPA for scholarships?
Unweighted. If your school only reports a weighted GPA, call Admissions and ask how they’ll convert it, because the 3.25 and 3.65 lines are hard cutoffs.
Can Minnesota students get the out-of-state merit award?
No. Minnesota students on reciprocity pay a much lower rate instead. The award only applies to nonresident and Midwest Tuition Program students.
Are there automatic scholarships for Wisconsin residents?
UWEC doesn’t publish an automatic merit grid for Wisconsin students. Some awards may come just from the admission application, but the bigger paths are the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application, the Honors $1,000 guarantee, and need-based grants like the Wisconsin Grant.
Is there a separate application or deadline for the out-of-state award?
No. It’s assigned when your student is admitted. Applying earlier just means you see the number sooner.
Does the out-of-state award combine with other UWEC scholarships?
UWEC doesn’t publish a rule against combining it with Foundation or departmental awards, and families generally receive both. It does count toward the Honors $1,000 guarantee, so it effectively replaces that. Check your award letter for the final word.
UW-Eau Claire does not offer a big-name, full-tuition flagship scholarship. You won’t find a Presidential Scholars-style award with finalist weekends here. UWEC’s most competitive money lives in two smaller, program-based awards: Biomedical Innovator Scholars ($8,000 a year) and the Blugold Fellowship (10 students a year). Both are covered in Hidden Gems below because they come through the same scholarship application.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at UWEC?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
UWEC Parent Translation
Out-of-State Merit
N/A
One award based on GPA: $4,000 or $8,000. Disappears if your rate switches to Minnesota, Wisconsin or Return to Wisconsin.
First-Year Honors $1,000
Floor, not add-on
Only pays if your other UWEC awards total less than $1,000. Most valuable for Wisconsin and Minnesota students.
BI Scholars / Blugold Fellowship
Generally yes
Program awards that layer on top. BI Scholars can’t also use ORSP academic-year research grants.
Foundation & Departmental
Usually
The gap fillers, from about $150 to several thousand. One application covers most of them for incoming students.
Starting in 2026-27, if scholarships cover your full cost of attendance, Pell can be cut. Rare at UWEC, but worth knowing.
Here’s the honest picture: UWEC wins on price, not on giant awards. A Wisconsin kid starts around $19,700 a year all-in before aid, and an out-of-state A student with the $8,000 award lands near $22,000. If your student is chasing a full ride with interviews and finalist weekends, that hunt happens elsewhere. If they want a good school at a fair price with real research from day one, UWEC deserves a hard look.
This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does UW-Eau Claire offer a full-tuition scholarship?
Not as a university merit award. The only full-tuition path we found is an Army ROTC scholarship, which comes with a service commitment. UWEC’s top institutional merit is the $8,000 out-of-state award or $8,000 a year through Biomedical Innovator Scholars.
What is the most competitive scholarship at UWEC?
The Blugold Fellowship goes to just 10 incoming freshmen a year ($8,400 over two years plus paid research). Biomedical Innovator Scholars ($32,000 over four years) is also selective, and space is limited.
When are UWEC’s competitive scholarships due?
December 1 of senior year, through the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application on Gold for Blugolds. The Fellowship also requires being admitted to UWEC by mid-November.
Does UWEC have a National Merit scholarship?
UWEC doesn’t advertise a National Merit package. A National Merit Finalist would still get the out-of-state award if eligible and should apply for the Fellowship and BI Scholars.
How can my student stand out on the scholarship application?
Upload a clean activities list (UWEC offers a template) and write a specific short essay. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize this in an evening.
At UWEC, getting admitted only unlocks the automatic out-of-state award. Nearly everything else runs through one form: the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application on Gold for Blugolds.
Apply for admission early in the fall (mid-November admission matters for the Fellowship).
Activate the UWEC account from the admit email.
Complete the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application by December 1, with the activities upload.
Check the boxes for Biomedical Innovator Scholars and the Blugold Fellowship if they fit, and write the extra essays.
Music students: book a program audition, since that’s the scholarship application too.
Parent translation: skip this form and your student still gets admitted, but a Wisconsin or Minnesota family may walk away with zero scholarship dollars.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t automatic, but they’re where UWEC gets genuinely interesting: research money for freshmen, a Mayo Clinic pipeline, an alumni-family discount and grants that quietly cover costs for lower-income families.
App Required
Biomedical Innovator Scholars
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$8,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Incoming first-year students planning a degree and career in health care or biomedical fields. To keep it: 3.5 GPA, 30 credits per academic year, and staying on a health or biomedical path.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can combine with other UWEC scholarships. Biomedical Innovator Scholars are not eligible for ORSP academic-year research grants, since research funding is built into the program.
📄
How to Apply
1) Apply to UWEC and mention health or biomedical interest in your essay. 2) Activate your UWEC account. 3) On Gold for Blugolds, complete the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application, check the Biomedical Innovator box, and write the extra essay by December 1. Selected students are notified by email.
Selection criteria: Holistic review emphasizing academic preparation for biomedical study, leadership, research potential, and fit with the Mayo collaboration.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
$8,000 per year ($32,000 over four years). Guaranteed research starting first year, mentoring from UWEC faculty and Mayo Clinic Health System and other partners, clinical skills events, and access to paid summer research (up to $3,000 per summer). Space is limited and selection is competitive.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pre-med, pre-PA, nursing-curious, and biomedical engineering students who can show real interest in health care and research, and who apply by December 1.
App Required
Blugold Fellowship
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (2 yrs)
$4,200/yr
✔ Stackable
✎ ~25 ACT👥 ~10 incoming first-year students per year winners/yrAdmitted to UWEC by mid-November, top 25% of high school class, and ACT 25 or higher (UWEC's page still lists the old 1700 SAT scale).
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can combine with other UWEC scholarships. The award is paused during study abroad and can resume afterward.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission early in the fall. Then complete the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application on Gold for Blugolds by December 1, indicate interest in the Blugold Fellowship, and write the short essay.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes academic promise, essay quality, and potential for meaningful engagement in student–faculty research.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
$3,000 scholarship plus a $1,200 research-assistant stipend each year, renewable for sophomore year for a total value of $8,400. Fellows work 3 to 5 hours a week with a faculty mentor and take a 1-credit research seminar each semester of the first year. No research experience needed.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Curious, high-achieving incoming students from any major who apply for admission early (admitted by mid-November) and write a strong short essay about wanting to do research.
App Required
Return to Wisconsin (25% Off Nonresident Tuition)
📅 Deadline: Return the eligibility form to Blugold Central before your first bill; no fixed date is published. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
Child, grandchild or legal ward of someone who earned any UWEC degree. The student or the qualifying alum must live outside Wisconsin and Minnesota. Undergraduate only.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Out-of-state merit awards are reduced or removed when your rate changes to Return to Wisconsin, so run the math. Under a 3.25 GPA: Return to Wisconsin saves about $4,691. At 3.25 to 3.64: it beats the $4,000 award by roughly $691. At 3.65+: staying on the nonresident rate with the $8,000 award is about $3,309 cheaper.
📄
How to Apply
Download the Return to Wisconsin eligibility form from UWEC's Tuition & Fees page and return it to Blugold Central (blugoldcentral@uwec.edu).
💡
Strategic Detail
Cuts nonresident tuition and fees from $20,674 to $15,983 for 2026-27, about $4,691 a year. It is a tuition-rate discount, so it applies for as long as you qualify for the rate.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state families with a UWEC grad in the family tree, especially students below a 3.65 GPA.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Blugold Commitment Grant
📅 Deadline: File the FAFSA by July 1 for priority. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradPriority goes to undergraduates with a Student Aid Index of $7,000 or less who file the FAFSA by July 1. Other students with need may receive it if funds remain.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Need-based aid is re-determined each year from that year's FAFSA.
💡
Strategic Detail
Part of every UWEC undergrad's tuition is the Blugold Commitment differential, which pays for research, immersion trips, internships and more. This grant equals that differential, so lower-income students get the benefit without paying the extra.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Lower-income families who file the FAFSA early. No separate application.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Music & Theatre Arts Audition Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Audition dates for fall 2027 entry: November 7, 2026 (winds, brass and percussion only), January 20, February 13 and March 6, 2027. Register at least two weeks before your date. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Close to $60,000 to first-year students each year winners/yr🎓 All UndergradMostly for music majors, music minors and musical theatre majors. A few ensembles (Blugold Marching Band, Singing Statesmen, Women's Concert Chorale) offer non-major scholarships.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with automatic merit and Foundation awards.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to UWEC, activate your account, then start the Music and Theatre Arts Audition Application in Gold for Blugolds. One recommendation letter is due a week before your audition.
Selection criteria: Departmental committees assess artistic talent, potential, and contribution to ensembles or programs.
💡
Strategic Detail
Every student who completes a program audition is automatically considered; there is no extra scholarship application. Decisions come after the final spring audition, with your program acceptance letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who audition in person on an early date with well-prepared, memorized repertoire and a strong recommendation from their music teacher.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
UW-Eau Claire Foundation & Departmental Scholarships
📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: Awards usually announced in late spring for the following academic year. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~The UW-Eau Claire Foundation awards more than $2 million a year winners/yr🎓 All UndergradCriteria vary by donor: intended major, hometown or high school, financial need, leadership, service, first-generation status and more.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Generally combines with automatic merit and need-based aid, up to your cost of attendance. Starting in 2026-27, scholarships that reach full cost of attendance can reduce Pell Grant eligibility.
📄
How to Apply
Activate your UWEC account, log in to Gold for Blugolds, and complete the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application. Upload the activities document (UWEC provides a template). Continuing students return each January.
Selection criteria: Varies by scholarship; reviewers consider GPA, involvement, service, and donor-specific preferences.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Hundreds of donor-funded awards live in the Gold for Blugolds portal. UWEC says individual awards range from about $150 to more than $8,000 a year. One application covers most incoming-student awards; continuing students reapply each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who actually fill out the application and the activities upload. Many awards go unclaimed by students who assume they would not qualify.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Student-Faculty Research Grants (ORSP)
📅 Deadline: Summer research (SREU): February 10. Academic-year research (SFRC): July 15 and September 15. Open deadline for Pell-eligible, first-generation, post-traditional or veteran students, and students registered with Services for Students with Disabilities. Non-Renewable
$2,000–$2,300
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradUndergraduates in any major working with a faculty or academic staff mentor; at least 6 credits during the grant period (or the following fall for summer grants).
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is paid work, so it may affect your total aid package. Biomedical Innovator Scholars cannot use it during the academic year.
📄
How to Apply
Find a faculty mentor, write the proposal together, and submit it through the ORSP eForm by the round deadline.
Selection criteria: Committee review considering project quality, feasibility, mentor support, and educational benefit to the student.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Academic year: up to $2,000 for the student plus up to $600 for supplies. Summer: up to $2,300 plus up to $600, and the faculty mentor gets a stipend too. Students can earn up to $3,000 in an academic year and $3,500 in a summer across multiple projects. Funded in part by the Blugold Commitment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who build a relationship with a professor early and co-write a clear proposal. Funded students present at UWEC's CERCA research day or a similar symposium.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Wisconsin & Blugold Study Abroad Grants
📅 Deadline: Varies by term; apply before your program begins. Non-Renewable
$2,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradWisconsin Study Abroad Grant: Wisconsin residents with financial need (recipients typically have an SAI of $10,000 or less), full-time the semester before, for fall, spring or Winterim programs. Blugold Study Abroad Grants: open to non-Wisconsin residents and can be used for summer.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA, plan your program with the Center for International Education, and ask Blugold Central about the grant before the term starts.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Wisconsin Study Abroad Grant pays up to $2,000. UWEC does not publish a maximum for the Blugold version, which it describes as similar.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with financial need who plan a semester or Winterim abroad. UWEC is one of the national leaders in study abroad participation.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Army ROTC Scholarship
📅 Deadline: National Army ROTC scholarship timelines for high school seniors; campus-based scholarships through the UWEC ROTC office after enrolling. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition, fees, stipend, and books
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Determined by U.S. Army ROTC allocations for the host battalion. winners/yr🎓 All UndergradArmy ROTC is on campus at UWEC (Schneider Hall 209). Basic courses are open to any student with no obligation; contracting as a cadet requires service after graduation.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can combine with other aid under Army and federal rules; check how it interacts with your UWEC merit award before accepting.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the national Army ROTC scholarship process as a senior, or contact the UWEC ROTC office (ArmyROTC@uwec.edu) after enrolling to ask about campus-based scholarships.
Selection criteria: National ROTC evaluation of academic performance, leadership, physical fitness, and officer potential.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Cadets may be eligible for a tuition scholarship, a room and board scholarship, a study abroad scholarship, or federal tuition benefits, depending on the option awarded.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who meet Army academic, fitness and medical standards and want to commission as an officer.
Data last verified Oct 20, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is the Biomedical Innovator Scholars program at UWEC?
It’s an $8,000-a-year scholarship ($32,000 total) for students headed into health care or biomedical fields. Scholars start research in their first year, get mentoring that includes Mayo Clinic Health System, and can earn up to $3,000 per summer in paid research. Apply by December 1 and keep a 3.5 GPA to renew.
Does my student need research experience for the Blugold Fellowship?
No. Fellows take a one-credit seminar that teaches the basics. They need to be admitted by mid-November, rank in the top 25% of their class and have an ACT of 25 or higher. The award is $3,000 plus a $1,200 work stipend each year for two years.
Is Return to Wisconsin worth it?
It depends on GPA. It cuts nonresident tuition by 25%, but it cancels the out-of-state merit award. Below a 3.25 GPA it’s a clear win. From 3.25 to 3.64 it beats the $4,000 award by about $691 a year. At 3.65 and up, the regular nonresident rate with the $8,000 award is about $3,300 cheaper.
Do music scholarships need a separate application?
No. Every student who completes a program audition is automatically considered, and the department awards close to $60,000 to freshmen each year. Most of it goes to music majors and minors, but the marching band and a couple of choirs have non-major awards.
Can current UWEC students still get scholarships?
Yes. Continuing-student applications in Gold for Blugolds open January 1 and close in mid-March. Research grants through ORSP run several rounds a year, with an open deadline for Pell-eligible and first-generation students.
Mark Stephen Cosby Honors College at UW-Eau Claire
The Cosby Honors College takes about 250 new students a year from every major on campus. It costs nothing extra, and the classes are small, discussion-based seminars rather than harder versions of regular courses. Most Honors classes also count toward general education, so it doesn’t add time to the degree. Honors students also get priority registration, which matters a lot in high-demand majors.
Automatic invitation: ACT 28+ (SAT 1300+) and top 5% of class, ACT 29+ (SAT 1330+) and top 10%, or ACT 30+ (SAT 1360+) and top 15%. A 3.95 GPA is used when class rank isn’t available.
No scores or just missed? Email honors@uwec.edu and submit the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application before December 1 for holistic review.
Catalyst: a free move-in-early week for new Honors students (August 23 to 27, 2027).
Honors College Scholarships
App Required
First-Year Honors Guarantee ($1,000 minimum)
📅 Deadline: December 1 Non-Renewable
$1,000
✘ Not stackable
Must be offered and accept a spot in the Cosby Honors College. Automatic invitations: ACT 28+ (SAT 1300+) and top 5% of class, ACT 29+ (SAT 1330+) and top 10%, or ACT 30+ (SAT 1360+) and top 15%, with a 3.95 GPA used when class rank is not available. Test-optional students can request holistic review.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted, accept your Honors invitation (or email honors@uwec.edu for holistic review), and submit the Admissions Scholarship and Honors Application on Gold for Blugolds before February 1.
Selection criteria: Tiered eligibility based on ACT/SAT score combined with class rank, or 3.95+ GPA if rank unavailable. All qualifying students who complete the Honors application receive at least $1,000.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
This is a floor, not an add-on. UWEC guarantees at least $1,000 in total UWEC scholarships for the first year. If another UWEC award (like the $4,000 or $8,000 out-of-state award) already gets you past $1,000, there is no extra Honors scholarship. After first year, Honors students can apply for Honors-only scholarships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Wisconsin and Minnesota residents benefit most, since they have no automatic merit for this to sit on top of.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Honors Scholarships for Continuing Students
📅 Deadline: Varies by award. The Prechel & Mickel Honors Scholarship deadline is March 15. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 UpperclassmenOpen to Cosby Honors College students after their first year.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other UWEC and Foundation awards up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Search Gold for Blugolds for Honors scholarships each January, and use the Honors eForm for the Prechel & Mickel award by March 15.
Selection criteria: Honors review emphasizing cumulative academic performance, leadership, campus or community involvement, and strength of application materials, consistent with UWEC's high-impact learning philosophy.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
UWEC confirms that every Honors student becomes eligible for Honors-only scholarships after first year, but it does not publish award amounts. The Prechel & Mickel Honors Scholarship is one named example; others are listed in Gold for Blugolds.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students who stay active: Honors courses, leadership, research and community work.
Data last verified Oct 20, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
UWEC doesn’t publish dollar amounts for its continuing-student Honors scholarships; check Gold for Blugolds each January.
Read this before you count on the $1,000: The First-Year Honors guarantee promises at least $1,000 in total UWEC scholarships. If your student already has the $4,000 or $8,000 out-of-state award, there’s no extra Honors money that first year. The application must be in before February 1, and December 1 gives the best shot at everything else.
Honors Perks That Save Money
Priority registration: helps students get required classes on time and graduate in four years (about 95% of Honors students do).
Honors LLC in Bridgman Hall: the largest living-learning community on campus.
Credit for real experiences: research, internships and study abroad can count toward Honors requirements.
Honors College: FAQs (UW-Eau Claire)
Is the Cosby Honors College hard to get into?
For strong testers, no: hitting one of the ACT and class-rank combinations gets an automatic invitation after admission. Students who don’t submit scores, or who fall just short, can request holistic review.
Does the Honors College cost extra?
No. There’s no added fee; it’s part of regular tuition.
Do Honors students get scholarships?
First-year Honors students who apply on time are guaranteed at least $1,000 total from UWEC. After freshman year, Honors students can apply for Honors-only awards like the Prechel & Mickel Honors Scholarship (due March 15).
What GPA do you need to stay in Honors?
To graduate with University Honors, students need a 3.50 GPA by graduation. As long as that’s still possible, students can stay in the program.
Can a current UWEC student join Honors later?
Yes. Students can petition after their first semester’s grades (November 15 for spring entry, April 1 for fall) with a personal statement, degree audit and midterm grades.
UW-Eau Claire is a mid-sized public university on the Chippewa River with about 9,000 students. It doesn’t have the name recognition of Madison, but it punches above its weight in two places parents care about: health care careers and hands-on research, starting in the first year.
Nationally Known For: Undergraduate research. UWEC is in the top 2% nationally for student participation in the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Freshmen can get paid to work with professors through the Blugold Fellowship, Biomedical Innovator Scholars and campus research grants, something many big universities save for grad students.
Business: the most popular area on campus, about a quarter of all bachelor’s degrees, with majors from accounting and finance to supply chain, professional sales and health care administration.
Nursing and health sciences: health professions make up about 18% of degrees. Mayo Clinic Health System was the number one employer of UWEC graduates in 2024-25, and the two share the new Riverside Science Center.
Pre-med and biology: a dedicated Health Careers Center, Mayo-connected research and clinical skills events give pre-health students a real head start.
Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering: a less-known strength, with undergrads working on projects like injectable foams for cancer treatment and 3D-printed surgical models.
Education: about 1 in 10 graduates, with strong teaching programs from elementary through special education.
Music: the Blugold Marching Band has 475+ members, the largest in the Midwest, and the department awards about $60,000 a year to incoming students.
🔗 Official UW-Eau Claire Links
Use UWEC’s own pages below to double-check deadlines, award amounts and costs before you make decisions. Schools update these every year, and the official page always wins.
UW-Eau Claire is a price-and-opportunity school, not a big-scholarship school. Wisconsin families get a solid university for under $20,000 a year all-in, and Minnesota families pay nearly the same through reciprocity. Students from the ten Midwest Tuition states with a 3.25+ GPA can come out close to in-state. Strong out-of-state students get $8,000 a year based on GPA alone, no test required.
Where UWEC really earns its keep is what happens after move-in: freshmen doing paid research, pre-health students working alongside Mayo Clinic, and one of the strongest study abroad programs in the country. The catch is timing. Admission runs all the way to August, but the money that makes UWEC special gets decided by December 1. Get the application in early, fill out the scholarship form, and run the Return to Wisconsin math if you have a Blugold in the family.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me. More about Leo →
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