Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has been named to The Princeton Review’s “2026 Best Colleges: Region by Region” list. The feature highlights 631 colleges across seven geographic zones, including the Midwest, and recognizes schools considered academically strong and worth considering for prospective students.

Within the Midwest region, 150 colleges were included on the unranked list. UW-Eau Claire is one of only four regional comprehensive universities in Wisconsin and Minnesota to be recognized, and one of seven public institutions among 24 campuses in those two states.

The Princeton Review compiles its list based entirely on student survey responses. This year’s surveys included comments such as:

UW-Eau Claire is "a close-knit campus" where "dedicated and helpful faculty are experts in their fields."

Often called "Wisconsin's most beautiful campus," UW-Eau Claire "feels like a private school setting, an enclosed campus footprint surrounded by woods with a river running through the middle."

Even some seniors elect to stay in residence halls, describing "amazing dorm life that is very community-based."

An education vision that strongly promotes enriching out-of-the-classroom experiences elicits comments touting the "many study abroad programs," the "astounding graduate-level research opportunities open to hundreds of undergrads each year" and more than 200 student organizations that offer social life, leadership opportunities and "easy ways to find your niche at UWEC."