UWEC jumps in Forbes’ best colleges ranking

In Forbes’ annual America’s Top Colleges listing, UW-Eau Claire’s ranking rose from 412th in the 2023-24 ranking to 259th in the U.S. this year.

UW-Eau Claire is the top regional comprehensive university in Wisconsin and Minnesota in the ranking based on academic success, retention rate, graduation rate, alumni salary, debt and return on investment. Only UW-Madison and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, are ranked higher in the two states. Forbes ranked UW-Eau Claire 48th in the Midwest and 122nd among all public universities. 

“Forbes recognizes what we always have known — that anything is possible with a UW-Eau Claire education,” Chancellor James Schmidt says. “Blugolds past and present use the skills they learned on campus to become successful, influential leaders who make a difference in their communities.”

UW-Eau Claire’s 2024-25 ranking was bolstered by the academic success of Devin Sobottka of Knapp, a third-year chemistry major who received the Goldwater Scholarship, a national award given to students who plan to pursue research careers in natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

The university’s ranking also reflects the success of alumnus John Menard, founder of home improvement retailer Menards, who is on the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people.

Schools ranked highly on the list if their students returned after the first year on campus, graduated on time, secured high salaries after graduation and accumulated little student debt, according to Forbes.

The ranking “speaks volumes about the incredible experiences Blugolds have at UW-Eau Claire,” says Billy Felz, vice chancellor for enrollment management.

“They will have invaluable opportunities both in and out of the classroom that will pave the way for amazing futures,” Felz says. “From an investment perspective, our place in the rankings indicates UWEC is a brilliant choice; our students graduate in a timely manner, with low debt and outstanding earning potential as alumni.”

UW-Eau Claire scored high compared to its peers in graduates’ salaries, according to Forbes. The median 10-year salary for UW-Eau Claire graduates rose from $106,500 on the 2023-24 list to $108,900 in the new ranking.

The university also ranked high for the low-income price-to-earnings premium and the percentage of students who can repay some of their federal loan principal within five years of graduating. Forbes reported that UW-Eau Claire’s average grant aid rose to $4,251 compared to 2023-24 and its average student debt dropped from last year to $7,354.

Princeton again was the top-ranked college followed by Stanford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the ranking.

UW-Eau Claire has been named a top college in numerous rankings in the past year, including U.S. News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The Princeton Review and Campus Pride Index. U.S. News listed UW-Eau Claire among the best institutions in the country for undergraduate research.