University of Wisconsin Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a public research university in River Falls, Wisconsin, serving roughly 4,205 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 81.72% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,458 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $9,008
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,054 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 81.72% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,205 93.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 57.00%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
- First-Generation Students: 26.5%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 5.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 8.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 59.2%
- Average SAT Score: 1150
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,395
- Applicants (IPEDS): 5,903
- Room & Board: $7,982 annual estimate
University of Wisconsin-River Falls: what the data shows
Common questions about University of Wisconsin-River Falls, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
University of Wisconsin-River Falls is located in River Falls, WI (ZIP 54022-5001).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is University of Wisconsin-River Falls public or private?
University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a Public institution.
How much does University of Wisconsin-River Falls cost?
Published tuition: $9,008 in-state, $17,470 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $14,054.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $8,472 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,014 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $10,796 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,578 |
| $110,001+ | $18,234 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $36,032.
How hard is it to get into University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
Admission rate: 81.72%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1150 and midpoint ACT 22.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
Total enrollment: 4,205 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 5,395 students.
Graduate enrollment: 363 students.
About 93% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
150%-time completion rate: 57.00%.
First-year retention: 76.4%.
What do graduates of University of Wisconsin-River Falls earn?
Median earnings: $46,524 six years after entry; $54,458 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,500.
20.83% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of Wisconsin-River Falls known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Animal Sciences, General (149 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (137 completions)
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision (73 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (70 completions)
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (65 completions)
- Biomedical Sciences, General (65 completions)
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (53 completions)
- Psychology, General (52 completions)
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, General (49 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (36 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of Wisconsin-River Falls a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 81.72%; completion rate 57.00%; median earnings $54,458 at 10 years; net price $14,054. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$9,008
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of Wisconsin-River Falls was $9,008.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,054
2024 Value
In 2024 University of Wisconsin-River Falls had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,054.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$56,216 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,054 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$36,032 4-Year In-State Tuition
$69,880 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$7,982 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$450 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$17,440 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$69,760 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Financial Aid by Income Level
20.83% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
42.97% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Wisconsin-River Falls was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Wisconsin-River Falls in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,720 | $15,293 | $13,493 |
| 2014 | $7,751 | $15,324 | $13,756 |
| 2015 | $7,937 | $15,510 | $14,402 |
| 2016 | $7,981 | $15,554 | $15,452 |
| 2017 | $8,013 | $15,586 | $14,553 |
| 2018 | $8,025 | $15,598 | $15,645 |
| 2019 | $8,037 | $15,610 | $13,748 |
| 2020 | $8,063 | $15,636 | $13,844 |
| 2021 | $8,088 | $15,661 | $14,059 |
| 2022 | $8,135 | $16,128 | $13,581 |
| 2023 | $8,606 | $16,887 | $14,714 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
81.72% Acceptance Rate
5,903 Total Applicants
4,818 Students Admitted
1,063 First-Time Students Enrolled
22.06% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1150
ACT Average: 22
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of Wisconsin-River Falls reported total enrollment of about 4,205 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 38% male and 62% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (85.4%), Hispanic or Latino (5.0%), and Two or More Races (2.4%). About 20.83% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 26.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
93.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2024 is 4,205 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 5,395 students. Graduate enrollment is about 363 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
76.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 85.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
41.61% 100% Completion Time
57.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 41.61% of students graduating from University of Wisconsin-River Falls completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Animal Sciences, General: 5% male / 95% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 53% male / 47% female
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision: 37% male / 63% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Return on Investment
$20,500 Median Student Debt
$54,458 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
37.64% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
868.73% Return on Investment
3.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 65 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Animal Sciences, General: 149 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 137 completions
3. Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision: 73 completions
4. Elementary Education and Teaching: 70 completions
5. Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication: 65 completions
6. Biomedical Sciences, General: 65 completions
7. Physical Education Teaching and Coaching: 53 completions
8. Psychology, General: 52 completions
9. Communication Sciences and Disorders, General: 49 completions
Most popular programs at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of Wisconsin-River Falls from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 59.2%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,788
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $9,465
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, WI, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Animal Sciences, General, Business Administration and Management, General, Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision. Enrollment is approximately 4,205 students. Student body composition includes White (85.4%), Hispanic or Latino (5.0%), Two or More Races (2.4%). The admission rate is 81.72%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1150. The 150%-time completion rate is 57.00%. Approximately 20.83% of students receive Pell Grants. About 26.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Location
River Falls, WI 54022-5001
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 65 distinct degree programs, University of Wisconsin-River Falls provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of Wisconsin-River Falls located?
University of Wisconsin-River Falls is located in River Falls, WI.
What is University of Wisconsin-River Falls's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-River Falls is 81.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 5,903 applicants and 4,818 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does University of Wisconsin-River Falls cost?
Reported tuition is $9,008 and average net price is $14,054 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $7,982 annually.
What is the student body demographics at University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
University of Wisconsin-River Falls reports undergraduate enrollment of about 5,395 students, White (85.4%), Hispanic or Latino (5.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
About 26.5% of students at University of Wisconsin-River Falls are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Wisconsin-River Falls reports midpoint SAT about 1150 and midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of University of Wisconsin-River Falls earn?
Median earnings are $46,524 six years after entry and $54,458 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
The 150%-time completion rate is 57.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-River Falls students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,500.
Is University of Wisconsin-River Falls public or private?
University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, WI.
Is University of Wisconsin-River Falls an HBCU?
No. University of Wisconsin-River Falls is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of Wisconsin-River Falls a tribal college?
No. University of Wisconsin-River Falls is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Wisconsin college costs
- Wisconsin colleges by ROI
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Wisconsin
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.