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Colleges in and near Eau Claire

Eau Claire is home to two colleges, with about 16,000 students on campus

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (9,140 students on campus) and Chippewa Valley Technical College (6,571) are inside the city. About 13% of Eau Claire’s residents are enrolled in college, above Wisconsin (6%).

University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireChippewa Valley Technical College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Eau Claire. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
15,711 students on campus
Nearest college
1.4 mi
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Residents in college
13%
Above WI (6%)
Nearest community college
1.7 mi
Chippewa Valley Technical College · $4,844 tuition
Nearest public university
1.4 mi
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · $9,642 in-state
Median household income
$67K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Eau Claire

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 1.7 milesUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire admits 82% of applicants. Together they have 15,711 students on campus.In-state price at University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireLiving in Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire charges $9,642 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $19,228. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 1.7 miles awayChippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire: tuition and fees $4,844 a year for Wisconsin residents.Students are 13% of residentsAbove Wisconsin (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Eau Claire

Both are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Eau Claire.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireChippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireUniversity or college · Public · 9,140 on campus · In Eau Claire82%admitted$17knet price64%graduate$59kearningsChippewa Valley Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,571 on campus · In Eau Claire$12knet price50%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $4,844 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Eau Claire’s median household income ($67,395) falls.

Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeIn Eau Claire · sticker $16,986 · tuition $4,844$11,868a year
University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireIn Eau Claire · sticker $21,705$12,766a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Eau Claire: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireChippewa Valley Technical College
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire64% graduate$59k earnings$21k typical debt
Chippewa Valley Technical College50% graduate$46k earnings$11k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Eau Claire

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Eau Claire’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 24%Health professions 23%Education 6%Biology 3%Visual & performing arts 3%Psychology 3%Everything else 37%

Biggest programs

Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · 167 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingChippewa Valley Technical College · 165 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
MarketingUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · 138 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · 136 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · 130 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · 123 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · 107 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · 101 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Eau Claire

Is Eau Claire a college town?

No. About 13 of every 100 Eau Claire residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Wisconsin (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, has 9,140 students on campus.

What colleges are in Eau Claire?

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Chippewa Valley Technical College are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Eau Claire, and what does it cost?

Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, 1.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,844 a year for Wisconsin residents; the federal net price, $12,285, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire cost if we live in Wisconsin?

Tuition and fees are $9,642 a year in-state and $19,228 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,270 (under $30,000 income) to $20,778 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Eau Claire. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →