Study abroad at Eau Claire

Eau Claire is Wisconsin's picturesque, thriving indie arts and college city situated in western Wisconsin at the scenic confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers (just 75 minutes east of Minneapolis–Saint Paul Twin Cities). Acclaimed as 'The Indie Capital of the Midwest' (home to the Pablo Center at the Confluence and thriving indie music festivals founded by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver), Phoenix Park, and known for the pedestrian footbridge over the Chippewa River, Eau Claire is home to the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UW-Eau Claire / UWEC - founded in 1916, consistently ranked among the top 5 Public Regional Universities in the Midwest by US News & World Report, officially celebrated as 'Wisconsin's Most Beautiful Campus'). UWEC is world-famous for its landmark Master Research Agreement with the world-renowned Mayo Clinic Health System (providing undergraduate students with unprecedented collaborative clinical research in biomedical sciences, oncology, and neuroscience), College of Business (AACSB-accredited, home to the nationally ranked Center for Sales and Sales Management), College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and College of Arts and Sciences (Materials Science & Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Data Science). Degrees are taught 100% in English with prestigious US accreditations. International students benefit from the UW System's top-tier academic reputation, generous Blugold International Merit Scholarships, ultra-safe Midwestern community, low living costs, and direct US F-1 / I-20 Student Visa support with 3-year STEM OPT work extensions.

Tuition fees in Eau Claire for international undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UWEC) range between $18,500 and $19,800 per academic year for Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Nursing, and Business Management (with UWEC automatically awarding the Blugold International Fellowship and merit scholarships of $3,000 to $6,000/year to qualified international applicants, bringing net tuition down to approx. $12,500–$15,500/year). At Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC), tuition is approx. $9,800/year. Postgraduate Master's degrees range from $16,000 to $22,000 per year. On-campus university residence halls (UWEC Towers Hall, Karlgaard Towers, Sutherland, Suites) cost between $650 and $1,150 per month (inclusive of dining plans and utilities), while off-campus student apartments in Water Street District, Randall, and Downtown Eau Claire range from $480 to $850 per month. General monthly living expenses range between $700 and $1,150 (among the most affordable in the US).

International students require a US F-1 Student Visa. Upon academic admission and verification of financial documentation (bank statement certifying first-year tuition and living expenses minus scholarship awards), the Center for International Education (UWEC CIE) issues the official Form I-20. The student pays the SEVIS I-901 fee, completes the DS-160 online visa application, and attends the F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate. STEM graduates qualify for a 24-month OPT extension (total 36 months of US employment authorization).