University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

What University of Wisconsin - La Crosse does

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) is a public university founded in 1909, operating a 128-acre campus in La Crosse, Wisconsin as part of the Universities of Wisconsin system governed by the Board of Regents. It offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across arts, sciences, business, and health disciplines, serving prospective and current students, adult learners, international students, and veteran and military-connected students. The university runs a multi-channel admissions and recruitment operation across web, social media (Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram), campus visits, and alumni outreach, and supports student services such as the Counseling & Testing Center, Student Health Center, Recreational Sports (serving 86% of students), Career Services, and the Campus Child Center.

UWL's operating technology stack is built on industry-standard higher-ed platforms: Canvas LMS for course delivery, WINGS student information system for registration and records, Workday for HR and finance, Microsoft 365 for productivity, Okta for identity and single sign-on, Navigate (EAB) for student success and advising, Handshake for careers, Rave Alert for emergency notifications, and specialized integrations including Passport Parking, Flywire (international payments), CashNet, Blackbaud (fundraising), and Qualtrics (surveys). Layered on top of this commercial stack, UWL researchers have developed proprietary AI and analytics tools: the Macro Buddy AI Tutor (generative AI for macroeconomics instruction) and the Waveform Structural Complexity Index (WSCI) for forest structural analysis from satellite LiDAR data, both released in 2025.

UWL's revenue model is a hybrid of tuition and fees, state appropriations from Wisconsin and the Universities of Wisconsin system, auxiliary services (housing, dining, parking, bookstore, recreation), and private philanthropy through the UWL Foundation. Pricing varies by residency status, program level, and enrollment intensity, with financial aid, scholarships, and grants available to eligible students. The university is rated the No. 1 public university in Wisconsin with fewer than 25,000 students by U.S. News & World Report, with 96% of students participating in high-impact practices such as undergraduate research and service-learning.

Name

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

Legal name

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Website

https://uwlax.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public regional university in La Crosse, Wisconsin, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees to traditional, adult, international, and military-connected students, funded through tuition, state appropriations, auxiliary services, and philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Public university education
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

La Crosse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition payments from undergraduate and graduate students, including in-state and out-of-state tuition, plus special and segregated fees for various campus services and facilities.
2. State Funding: Operating budget support from the State of Wisconsin and the Universities of Wisconsin system.
3. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from housing, dining, parking, bookstore, and recreational facilities serving students and campus community.
4. Private Philanthropy: Donations and gifts received through the UWL Foundation supporting scholarships, programs, and capital improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across arts, sciences, business, and health disciplines, complemented by on-campus housing, dining, recreational sports, mental and physical health services, academic advising, career services, and disability accommodations. Its offerings are enabled by a digital ecosystem spanning Canvas LMS, WINGS SIS, Navigate (EAB), Microsoft 365, and Workday ERP, plus specialized research tools including the Macro Buddy AI Tutor and the Waveform Structural Complexity Index (WSCI).

Product overview

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across arts, sciences, business, and health disciplines. The institution operates as a unified educational service provider rather than a commercial product company. Its primary 'products' are academic programs supported by an integrated suite of digital platforms including the Canvas learning management system, WINGS student information system, Navigate student success platform, and Microsoft 365 productivity tools. Student services encompass mental health support (Counseling & Testing Center with Mantra Health digital platform), recreational sports, childcare, health services, career services, and disability accommodations. Campus operations are supported by Workday ERP, Parking Portal with Passport Parking integration, Flywire international payments, and Handshake career platform. The university has also developed research tools including the Macro Buddy AI tutor for economics education and WSCI forest complexity indicator for environmental research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canvas Learning Management System Web-based learning management system (LMS) used by faculty for course delivery, assignments, grade management, and online discussion; students access courses and submit assignments via single sign-on.
• WINGS Student Information System Comprehensive student information system (SIS) providing a web-based portal for registration, course schedules, grades, financial aid, tuition billing, and student records, including FERPA Secure PIN management for third-party authorization.
• Navigate Student Success Platform Student success platform by EAB used for academic advising appointments, early alert interventions, and student tracking, helping advisors identify at-risk students and coordinate support resources.
• Microsoft 365 University-provided productivity and collaboration suite including Outlook email, Teams video conferencing, OneDrive cloud storage, and Office applications, available to all students, faculty, and staff.
• Murphy Library University library providing research databases, academic journals, study spaces, the Tutoring and Learning Center, and information literacy support for students and faculty.
• Workday HR/Finance Cloud-based enterprise system used for human resources management, payroll processing, benefits administration, and financial operations, accessed by faculty and staff through the MyUW portal.
• Parking Portal Online parking permit management system for purchasing student and employee permits, registering vehicles, and selecting parking lots; integrated with Passport Parking for hourly payments.
• Passport Parking Mobile App Mobile application for campus parking payments, enabling students and visitors to pay for hourly and overnight parking in designated campus commuter lots.
• Flywire International Payments International student tuition payment service integrated with student billing, allowing international students to pay in their home currency at preferential exchange rates with real-time payment tracking.
• Recreational Sports (REC) Campus recreational sports facilities and programs including fitness center, intramural sports, club sports, and outdoor adventure programs, serving more than 86% of students.
• Campus Child Center On-campus childcare center providing early childhood education and care programs for the children of UWL students, faculty, and staff; celebrated 40 years of service in spring 2026.
• Student Health Center On-campus medical clinic providing primary care, allergy injections, physical therapy, prescriptions, and health education for enrolled students, staffed by physicians and healthcare professionals.
• Counseling & Testing Center Mental health and testing services including individual and group counseling, crisis care, psychiatric services, and national testing administration; partners with Mantra Health for expanded digital mental health support.
• Mantra Health Care Hub Digital mental health platform providing therapy, psychiatry, coaching, peer support via Togetherall, and self-guided wellness content; free to all enrolled students age 16+ and accessed via web app or mobile (iOS/Android).
• COVE (Center for Organizations, Vision & Engagement) Student organization and leadership hub providing meeting space, reservation services, and leadership development programs, housing the Student Senate chambers and supporting student organization recognition.
• Graduate & Extended Learning Adult degree completion, graduate programs, professional development, and youth programs, offering non-credit workshops, conference services, and community education opportunities.
• Disability Resource Center Accessibility services for students with documented disabilities including academic accommodations, housing/dining accommodations, testing location, and assistive technology, using the DRConnect portal.
• Career Services Career counseling, job search assistance, resume reviews, interview preparation, and employer recruitment events, connecting students with employers through the Handshake platform.
• Macro Buddy AI Tutor AI-powered tutoring tool developed by UWL economics researchers to assist undergraduate macroeconomics students, using natural language processing to guide reasoning without providing direct answers.
• Eagles Helping Eagles Emergency assistance program providing donated household goods, furniture, and school supplies to students in need, administered by the Financial Aid Office.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of students participate in at least one high-impact practice such as undergraduate research or service-learning projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

AI capability6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Corn Belt PortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorn Belt Ports has partnered with UWL and nine other higher education institutions to establish the Corn Belt Ports Rural Logistics & Maritime Training & Education Consortium. The consortium aims to advance maritime and logistics workforce development across Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin, collaborating with industry partners to align educational programs with employer needs offering certifications in welding, electrician, and maintenance fields.
• Western Illinois UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in the Corn Belt Ports Rural Logistics & Maritime Training & Education Consortium, collaborating with UWL and eight other institutions to advance maritime and logistics workforce development across the upper Midwest.
• We Work the WaterwaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner collaborating with the Corn Belt Ports consortium and educational institutions to align educational programs with employer needs in the maritime industry.
• Mantra HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationUWL has partnered with Mantra Health to enhance mental health and wellness support for students through the Mantra Care Hub digital platform. Students can access virtual therapy, psychiatry, coaching, peer support through Togetherall, and self-guided wellness content at no cost.
• Western Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technical college partnership facilitating transfer pathways and collaborative educational opportunities for students in the La Crosse area.
• Universities of WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSystem-wide partnership through the Universities of Wisconsin (UW System) providing shared governance, policy framework, and collective advocacy for all UW universities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Wisconsin's largest urban public research university; competes with UWL for Wisconsin residents seeking broader program choice and graduate/professional credentials at a public price.

Direct peers

• University of Wisconsin-Stout: Wisconsin's polytechnic university within the UW System, similar in scale, with applied and career-oriented programs that overlap with UWL's professional offerings.
• University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh: UW System peer with overlapping business, education, and health programs; competes for Wisconsin residents and shares the same state funding model and system-level technology platforms.
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: Sister UW System comprehensive university of similar size (~10,000 students) in Eau Claire, WI; competes directly with UWL for Wisconsin and Upper Midwest undergraduates seeking a mid-sized public four-year experience.
• University of Wisconsin-Platteville: UW System regional comprehensive university serving a similar Wisconsin and tri-state recruitment footprint with overlapping academic programs.
• University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: Mid-sized UW System comprehensive university with comparable Carnegie classification and similar reliance on Wisconsin resident enrollment; competes for the same traditional undergraduate segment.
• University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: UW System peer with overlapping program mix and similar enrollment scale; competes for the same Wisconsin resident pool and shares many back-office system and consortium relationships.
• Winona State University: Minnesota State system peer located across the Mississippi River from La Crosse; directly comparable in size, mission, and recruitment geography, competing for the same regional student pool.
• Minnesota State University, Mankato: Larger Minnesota State peer with comparable program breadth and similar Upper Midwest recruitment footprint; competes for non-traditional and traditional students in overlapping service areas.

Others

• Western Technical College: La Crosse-area technical college partner; adjacent rather than overlapping given its two-year/career-technical focus, but competes for some non-traditional adult students and shares transfer pathways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/uwlacrossevids
• Facebookfacebook.com/UWLaCrosse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/edu/university-of-wisconsin-la-crosse-19688
• Instagraminstagram.com/uwlax
• TikToktiktok.com/@uwlax
• Xx.com/uwlacrosse

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Wisconsin - La Crosse