Founded in 1874, University of Wisconsin-River Falls. is a Public college. Located in Wisconsin, which is a city setting in Wisconsin, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 5,494 full time undergraduate students, and 444 full time graduate students.
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 21:1. There are 212 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of Wisconsin-River Falls include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
72%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
50
SAT Range
ACT Range
20-25
Admissions at UWRF are considered Selective, with ,41% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 38 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
74% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 38% were in the top quarter, and 12% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
0%
“We”re apathetic”
35%
“We know about current events and vote”
58%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
31%
“Sometimes, but not often”
42%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
27%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
4%
“I only go out in groups”
35%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
62%
“I feel extremely safe”
42%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
23%
“We bought the gear”
35%
“We live for the big game”
8%
“It”s not really our thing”
8%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
58%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
27%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
4%
“Available in class”
69%
“They keep regular office hours”
27%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
58%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
38%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
4%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
60%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
20%
“We only party on weekends”
20%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
0%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
85%
“There might be people who do”
12%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
4%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
35%
“We know about current events and vote”
58%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
31%
“Sometimes, but not often”
42%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
27%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
4%
“I only go out in groups”
35%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
62%
“I feel extremely safe”
42%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
23%
“We bought the gear”
35%
“We live for the big game”
8%
“It”s not really our thing”
8%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
58%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
27%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
4%
“Available in class”
69%
“They keep regular office hours”
27%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
58%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
38%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
4%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
101 Students rated on-campus housing 3.6 stars. 12 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
73 Students rated off-campus housing 3.7 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
106 Students rated campus food 2.9 stars. 5 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
110 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
111 Students rated class size 4.5 stars. 56 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
110 Students rated school activities 4 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
110 Students rated local services 4.2 stars. 40 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
111 Students rated academics 4.5 stars. 59 % gave the school a 5.0.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
38 Students rated University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Mia
Prospective04/14/2025
I wanted to attend UWRF due to how tight-knit of a community it seemed. The student body is small, as is the student-to-teacher ratio. That was a really big thing I was looking for. I also want to attend UWRF due to the opportunities for the major I want to do. They have two onsite farms that will allow me to get hands-on experience. I also really like the fact that they have a lot of opportunities for studying abroad, which is something I want to do. Overall, I picked UWRF due to its small size, opportunity for learning in the field I want to study, and the experiences they have for travelling abroad.
Rilee
Prospective04/13/2025
I want to attend the University of Wisconsin–River Falls because it feels like the right place for me, not just academically, but personally as well. I’ve lived in River Falls for a long time, so the community is already familiar to me. I’ve always felt that it’s a welcoming, tight-knit place, and that’s something I want in a college experience. It’s nice knowing I’ll be surrounded by people who already feel like a part of my world, but who will also help me grow in new ways.
I’ve already had the chance to take a college class at UWRF, Introduction to Communications and Disorders, and that experience made me even more excited about the idea of studying there. The class gave me a glimpse into the kind of academic support and environment that UWRF offers, and I really appreciated the personal attention and small class sizes. As I work toward becoming an audiologist, this kind of learning environment is exactly what I’m looking for.
Another reason I love the idea of attending UWRF is that it’s close to home. Being able to stay in River Falls while still pursuing my education makes me feel comfortable, and I know I’ll have the chance to stay connected to the community while building new experiences.
Overall, UWRF just feels like the perfect fit for me, a place that feels like home, where I can grow, learn, and become the best version of myself.
Mallory
Prospective04/07/2025
I love the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. It has top-tier programs in the fields of agriculture and education. For me, the Animal Science program is a key draw, as River Falls produces a large number of veterinary medicine students. Attending a school that specializes in my major is an enormous comfort. Additionally, its Greek life is an aspect of the campus that draws my attention. While it is present, it is not an overwhelming part of college life, allowing individuals to have as much or as little involvement as they choose. Furthermore, the riverside community fosters a unique relationship between residents of both the town and the college. It creates a tight-knit and codependent community that enhances life for both sides when experienced together. My exposure to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has me excited for the next chapter of my life and my future time on campus.
Nikki
11/28/2023
River Falls is awesome! Especially if you are into the animal community weather you come from farm or not. Campus involvement is alway hosting something to do, and more times than not people are approachable and friendly. Dorms are a little out of date, but it's dorm life, part of the college experience! Great time weather your here for the college experience or academic experience only.
Gabrielle
01/04/2023
Overall, UW-River Falls is great option for students that need an affordable choice for school and enjoy living in a small town. Campus is small compared to other UW schools but that is way I chose River Falls due to their location and how safe I feel being there.
BreeAnna
12/06/2020
I really love UWRF. The teachers are very smart and also very kind towards their students and co-workers. The students going to UWRF always want to learn and are all great and responsible people. I have made plenty of friends on campus. Also the campus is nice and there is a great place for students to hang out after class and during weekends.
Heather
05/12/2020
I absolutely love this school the class sizes are a perfect amount for students to learn in and the teachers are the best they are always their to help if you need it and even give ideas for things for students to check into for their fields of interest as well. If a teacher is not sure on something they will always get back to you or direct you to someone who can help. They care very much about their students and you can tell they know what they are ding and they make class very fun. They school also has many events for students to go to so they can all get to know each other and have good clean fun. Like bingo or dance parties my favorite was the rodeo they had at the beginning of the school year. It is a very active school that is fun to go to and learn from as well. They are a school that values everything not just sports or science or just the arts. It is a school for everyone and everything as well.
dani
02/23/2020
River Falls is a small town and small college which I personally liked. It is a bit more of a farm/agriculture related college which, again, I was not against. I did go into a health care field which is a small reason that I left River Falls, but it has been my most favorite campus so far out of three schools.
McKenzie
01/09/2020
I am going to be a current student, but I have visited and I also have a best friend who attends. I love the setup and how safe the area feels. I am extremely excited to begin there, and I think it will be an amazing experience. My best friend also says it is an amazing experience and she is very glad that River Falls is where she chose to go.
Sarah
09/04/2019
It is a very nice school. Not very bis you can walk from one end to the other in about 30 minutes. It is very easy to find your classes and the buildings. Everyone is very nice and inclusive. The food is okay, could be better. I personally don't like how my major has set things up for how you have to do classes. For education we have a system called tier and their are 4 different tiers and i don't like that.
Olivia
08/13/2019
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is innovative and inclusive. There are new discoveries everyday on campus, and such accomplishments can be thanks to the amazing staff who let students teach themselves. There is something for everyone on campus and plenty of clubs to try if students are feeling timid.
Rachael
06/28/2019
This university changed my life and provided me with a home like I had never experienced before. I did not think it was possible that colleges actually gave that experience to their students, but I was absolutely wrong. Though it may seem like it is a predominantly agricultural school, it is nearby the city and there are limitless opportunities for diversity and success for students of all walks of life.
Talley
05/09/2019
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is definitely an exceptional school. It was the perfect choice for me because it is exactly what I was looking for in a university. River Falls is a small city but it has a lot to offer. The campus isn't spread out too much and there are beautiful paths with great scenery you can take to avoid huge crowds of students when going to class. There are quite a bit of extracurricular activities, intramural sports, and countless clubs a student can and should take advantage of during their time at River Falls. There are grocery stores and small business shops that are just a couple minutes away from campus right down Main Street. Off-campus housing is definitely on the cheaper side and there are many options for housing that are right across the street from the university. There are also a wide-variety of sports that are offered and there is usually a huge student following for most of the sports.
kya
04/16/2019
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is great college to attend! It is a very calm place to attend. There are a lot of activities and groups to join. I love how UWRF really pushes the whole join one group. I am really happy with my choice to attend UWRF!
Gabrielle
02/21/2019
The main reason I enjoy UW-River Falls is because of the small town feel and the academics they offer. UWRF is placed in a small farm town with plenty of opportunites for an agriculture science major like myself. There are a plethora of farms around to learn from or to recieve employment from. As a result of how small the town is, the campus is as well. There is a closer feel to it, where you actually know and can make friends with your classmates, as well as get to know your professor and they know you too. In addition, the academics as well as hands on labs really make a difference than any other old college. It's a great campus, and although it does have some flaws, it is one of the best in Wisconsin.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of Wisconsin-River Falls is 72%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
One of my favorite quotations by Tom Landry (former coach of the Dallas Cowboys) is "today I gave everything I had and what I kept for myself I lost forever." This quotation reminds us that it is truly the things we do outside of ourselves that will make an impact on our world.
Yet, when you are choosing a college you are choosing to invest in yourself, and this investment is what will allow you to give back to your world.
It is important when choosing a college to choose one that is going to best equip you as an individual to give back to others in the the way that you want.
I majored in Communications and minored in Spanish, now I realize that I want to return to graduate school for a degree in International Education Development. Through the process of figuring out how I wanted to give back, I figured out which college and program will be the best fit for me.
So take a good look at your life up until now and ask yourself what you want to give, and that will help you figure out what you need to get from your college education.
Class sizes are small, and instructors here really are focused on helping students learn, and do make personal connections with the students. The campus is small and compact, which keeps it personal. I have never seen a professor who was not willing to spend extra time going over material, even if it was not for their own class, to help a student understand.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
Farmers and Hicks. This is not wrong but it is not completely true. We have a lot of students that are from rural areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota, but we as well have a great attraction to students in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area with our teacher ed program which is one of the best in the country. UWRF is the mixing pot of the rural and urban students
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
85% of students attending University of Wisconsin-River Falls receive some sort of financial aid.
31% were awarded federal grants.66%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
