All schools
University of Wisconsin-River Falls logo
PublicTown

University of Wisconsin-River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin 54022-5001

Visit website

Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

College townGreek life

Known for business — excellent value

University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a public town institution in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1120.

A mid-sized campus of 4.2K undergraduates with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

61% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $54,458 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $14,714.

Established
1874
Motto
Global. Innovative. Excellent.
Mascot
Freddy Falcon
Type
Public university
Conference
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

82%Acceptance
1120SAT Avg
4,152Students
17:1Student:Faculty
61%Grad Rate
$54,458Earnings 10yr
$14,714Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate81.6%

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 22
1925

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$8,606
Tuition (out-of-state)$16,887
Room & Board$7,658
Books & Supplies$440
Total Cost of Attendance$19,576
Average Net Price$14,714
Median Debt at Graduation$20,500
Monthly Payment (10yr)$217

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$9,520
$30–48K$11,067
$48–75K$14,246
$75–110K$17,463
$110K+$17,858

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

55.0%

Median Debt at Grad

$14,865

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

27

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

6

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

2

Motor Vehicle Theft

3

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

8

Drug Arrests

6

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (71)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

73%

Mixed

Student Body

Undergrads
4,152
Gender Split
64% / 36%
Women / Men
First Generation
26%
Pell Grant Recipients
20%

Race & Ethnicity

White 87%
Black 2%
Hispanic 4%
Asian 3%
Two+ 2%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate60.9%
Freshman Retention72.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$46,524
10 Years$54,458

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#17
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Volleyball

History & Fun Facts

  • In 1964, it was renamed "Wisconsin State University-River Falls" when state colleges were all granted university status.
  • The school became a member of the University of Wisconsin System in 1971 when the former University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State University system merged.
  • What is the UW System Archived October 11, 2021, at the Wayback Machine.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

93Average

Estimated from WI state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 60"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Minneapolispop. 430K
33 mi(57 min)
Milwaukeepop. 570K
266 mi(461 min)
Chicagopop. 2.7M
324 mi(562 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MSP Minneapolis-St Paul29 mi
MKE Milwaukee270 mi
ORD Chicago O'Hare309 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1089 mi · ~31h 28m drive
New York, NY984 mi · ~28h 26m drive
Hartford, CT1023 mi · ~29h 33m drive
Providence, RI1083 mi · ~31h 17m drive
Albany, NY952 mi · ~27h 30m drive
Syracuse, NY827 mi · ~23h 53m drive
Rochester, NY754 mi · ~21h 47m drive
Buffalo, NY697 mi · ~20h 8m drive
Philadelphia, PA951 mi · ~27h 28m drive
Pittsburgh, PA709 mi · ~20h 29m drive
Harrisburg, PA859 mi · ~24h 49m drive
Newark, NJ975 mi · ~28h 10m drive
Washington, DC899 mi · ~25h 58m drive
Baltimore, MD905 mi · ~26h 9m drive
Atlanta, GA883 mi · ~25h 31m drive
Charlotte, NC910 mi · ~26h 17m drive
Raleigh, NC965 mi · ~27h 53m drive
Miami, FL1490 mi · ~43h 3m drive
Orlando, FL1285 mi · ~37h 7m drive
Tampa, FL1295 mi · ~37h 25m drive
Nashville, TN674 mi · ~19h 28m drive
New Orleans, LA1039 mi · ~30h 1m drive
Richmond, VA935 mi · ~27h 1m drive
Chicago, IL324 mi · ~9h 22m drive
Detroit, MI510 mi · ~14h 44m drive
Minneapolis, MN33 mi · ~57 min drive
St. Louis, MO448 mi · ~12h 57m drive
Kansas City, MO410 mi · ~11h 51m drive
Indianapolis, IN482 mi · ~13h 55m drive
Columbus, OH595 mi · ~17h 11m drive
Cleveland, OH597 mi · ~17h 15m drive
Milwaukee, WI266 mi · ~7h 41m drive
Dallas, TX864 mi · ~24h 58m drive
Houston, TX1054 mi · ~30h 27m drive
Austin, TX1046 mi · ~30h 13m drive
San Antonio, TX1113 mi · ~32h 9m drive
Los Angeles, CA1548 mi · ~44h 43m drive
San Francisco, CA1611 mi · ~46h 32m drive
San Diego, CA1556 mi · ~44h 57m drive
Seattle, WA1424 mi · ~41h 8m drive
Portland, OR1456 mi · ~42h 4m drive
Denver, CO723 mi · ~20h 53m drive
Phoenix, AZ1301 mi · ~37h 35m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1014 mi · ~29h 18m drive
Honolulu, HI3993 mi · ~115h 21m drive
Upper Midwest / Northeast (cold winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

University of Wisconsin-River Falls Application Checklist

Decision Notifications