Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (UWL or UW–La Crosse) is a public university. Founded in 1909, it is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin System and provides undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programmes. University of Wisconsin La Crosse boasts a student body of 9,600 undergraduates and 1,000 graduates, spread across four schools and colleges. The institution provides a wide range of academic programmes, including 102 at the undergraduate level, 31 at the graduate level, and 2 doctoral programmes. As of 2021, University of Wisconsin La Crosse boasts a vast network of over 95,000 alumni spanning all 50 U.S. states and 57 countries. The university falls under the category of “Master’s Colleges & Universities: Larger Programmes” with research expenditures totaling $3 million in 2020. Highly acclaimed programmes consist of occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician assistant options at the graduate level. University of Wisconsin La Crosse also provides a highly regarded undergraduate programme in archaeology and anthropology, the sole one in the Midwest and among a select few nationwide. University of Wisconsin La Crosse’s 21 athletic teams participate in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, within NCAA’s Division III. The university proudly showcases Stryker the Eagle as its mascot.In the autumn of 2023, the enrollment at UW-La Crosse was 10,327, including 9,406 undergraduate students and 921 graduate students from 36 states, along with international students from 30 countries. First-year students typically have an ACT score of 25 and a high school class rank in the 80th percentile, making them one of the top academic profiles in the UW System. During the fall of 2023, the incoming freshman class included 60 high school valedictorians. University of Wisconsin La Crosse achieved an impressive 86.5% retention rate for first-year freshmen returning for the next academic year, the second highest in the UW System after UW-Madison. The campus spans 128 acres (52 hectares) and is situated in a residential area of La Crosse. The campus boasts an extensive landscape of grassy fields, trees, flowers, and other vegetation, creating a unique park-like atmosphere. The university efficiently manages vehicle traffic on campus. UW-La Crosse was honoured with a “Grand Award” at the 2006 Green Star Awards competition for its exceptional campus landscaping by the Professional Grounds Management Society. Located to the east of campus are the La Crosse bluffs, with Grandad Bluff being the most prominent, as noted in Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain. The campus is conveniently located about a half mile west of Downtown La Crosse and the Mississippi River.