UW-Eau Claire vs UW-La Crosse: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the WIAC. UW-La Crosse runs $1,065 less per year out of state; UW-La Crosse graduates 3 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean UW-Eau Claire if…
- You would be in-state: UW-Eau Claire is $374 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than UW-La Crosse.
Lean UW-La Crosse if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: UW-La Crosse lists $1,065 less per year in tuition and housing than UW-Eau Claire.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: UW-La Crosse graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than UW-Eau Claire.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 1 camp at UW-La Crosse against none listed at UW-Eau Claire.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | UW-Eau Claire | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,277 — UW-Eau Claire leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $9,651 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $18,516 | $18,691 |
| Room & board | $9,200 | $7,960 — UW-La Crosse leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,477 | $17,611 — UW-La Crosse leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $27,716 | $26,651 — UW-La Crosse leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | UW-Eau Claire | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 68% | 71% — UW-La Crosse leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | UW-Eau Claire | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 9,991 | 10,299 |
| Where it is | Eau Claire, WI | La Crosse, WI |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | UW-Eau Claire | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Leslie Huntington | Sam Korn |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | UW-Eau Claire | UW-La Crosse |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | — | 1 listed (1 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
UW-Eau Claire
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
UW-La Crosse
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
- Softball Prospect Camp | August 12th08/12/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $140
UW-Eau Claire vs UW-La Crosse: common questions
- Is UW-Eau Claire or UW-La Crosse cheaper?
- On published price, UW-La Crosse is cheaper — about $26,651 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $27,716 at UW-Eau Claire. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, UW-Eau Claire or UW-La Crosse?
- UW-La Crosse, at 71% against 68% at UW-Eau Claire (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- Do UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse run softball camps?
- We track 1 camp at UW-La Crosse and none currently listed at UW-Eau Claire. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse?
- UW-Eau Claire runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For UW-La Crosse, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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