How long does it take to earn a Master's degree?
Most degrees can be completed within two calendar years, as a full-time student. Part-time students may complete a program, in conjunction with their full-time employment, in most instances within five years. However, all graduate coursework must be completed within a seven-year period prior to graduation.
What does it cost, and how do I know if I am eligible for financial aid?
Tuition varies each calendar year. The UW-Eau Claire Admissions website has a link to "Tuition + Fees Schedules" which describes the standard graduate tuition rates for our on-cam pus graduate programs and the several forms of financial aid assistance available to UW-Eau Claire graduate students. Most of the online graduate programs have their own unique tuition + fee rates.
Graduate students must be admitted to a graduate program, be in good academic standing, and be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for financial aid. Half-time is defined as being enrolled in at least four graduate credits during the fall or spring semester, or at least three graduate credits during the summer session. Full-time is defined as being enrolled in nine or more graduate credits during the fall or spring semester, or six or more credits during the summer session. Enrollment in a thesis course (XXXX799), or any other full-time equivalent (FTE) course, also puts a student in full-time status for financial aid purposes.
Some employers reimburse their employees for job-related master-level education either through stipends or salary increases.
What is available for online graduate programs?
The College of Business offers an online MBA degree, the College of Arts and Sciences offers an online Master of Public Health and a collaborative online Master of Science in Data Science, and the College of Health and Human Sciences offers an online M.S. degree in Communication and Sciences and Disorders, as well as a hybrid cohort Master of Education in Professional Development program (meets one Saturday per month; rest of course is taught online). The rest of the graduate programs are primarily offered on-campus. More opportunities are opening for individual web-based courses, as well as graduate certificate programs, distance learning, and 24 hours a day contact.
What are the prerequisites?
A bachelor's degree appropriate to your master-level program and an undergraduate grade point average that meets the minimal requirement of the individual program. Please refer to your desired graduate program to view their specific prerequisite requirements. Prerequisites are determined on an individual basis, and in all cases are designed to assure your success in the program.
Currently, none of our graduate programs require the Graduate Record Examination or the Graduate Management Admission Test.
How and where do I apply, when is the deadline, is there an application fee, what do I need to submit for application materials?
If applying to Spring 2025 or later, you will apply to a specific graduate degree or certificate program or as a non-degree* seeking student via the UWEC Application for Admission (Note: Applicants for the Athletic Training and Communication Sciences & Disorders programs will not need to complete this application. If you are applying to one of those programs for Summer 2025 or later, please see your program details for application process information.)
UW-Eau Claire requires a $56 application fee.
Application deadlines vary by the program, so please refer to the Admissions website for your program specific deadline.
Transcript(s): Unless you received a bachelor's degree from UW-Eau Claire, you will be required to submit an official transcript from each institution where you obtained a degree. Additional application materials vary by program, but may include letters of recommendation, a letter of intent, a resume, etc.. Please refer to the program's website or academic plan sheet for specifics.
* If you are interested in just taking a graduate course or two or three, but not planning to earn a master's degree, you will apply as a "Graduate Non-degree Seeking (Special) Student". Some courses may be limited to students enrolled in a specific graduate program or may require prior approval or prerequisites, so please check with the department offering the course before applying to be a non-degree seeking student. Once you have applied and enrolled as a Graduate Non-degree Seeking Student, your application remains active for three years.
Apply for graduate school
