Located about 85 miles from Minneapolis, Eau Claire is a populous city and the sixth largest in the state. Postsecondary institutions in Eau Claire include a large public university as well as technical colleges and a private Christian college. Several area schools, including the University of Wisconsin, offer distance education programs serving online students.
Academics & Career Training in Eau Claire
At the two-year level, Eau Claire is home to technical and career colleges. Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) is a public college that offers certificates and associate degree programs. CVTC is one of 16 colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College system and provides academic career training programs in information technology, health sciences, human services, manufacturing and more. The school's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs include associate degree programs in engineering, computer and information services, and architecture and construction. In addition to its traditional academic programs, CVTC also offers continuing education programs, as well as apprenticeship programs that may provide paid training while learning on the job.
The University of Wisconsin (UW) Eau Claire is a public research university serving more than 15,000 students on a 337-acre campus. Home to four colleges and schools, UW Eau Claire offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, education and human sciences, and nursing and health sciences. Pre-professional programs are available in the areas of dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, pharmacy and more. The university also offers credit and non-credit continuing education programs, including professional development, certificate and customized training programs.
Additionally, Immanuel Lutheran High School, College & Seminary offers undergraduate programs in fields like education, religious studies and pre-theological studies.
Below is a list of some two and four-year institutions and career training institutes in Eau Claire:
| INSTITUTION | TYPE | PROGRAMS/DEGREES |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | Two-Year, Public | Certificates and associate degrees |
| University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire | Four-Year, Public | Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees |
| Immanuel Lutheran High School, College & Seminary | Four-Year, Private | Associate degrees and bachelor's degrees in education and religion-related studies |
Colleges with Online Options in Eau Claire
CVTC offers a host of alternatives for distance education. Online courses are delivered completely online and require no on-campus meetings. In hybrid courses, students complete part of the program online and the other part in the traditional classroom. With web conferencing, instructors deliver courses through an online collaboration program called Microsoft Sync. Web conferencing courses may include live chat sessions, live lectures or question and answer sessions.
Online programs at UW-Eau Claire include one fully online bachelor's degree program in organizational leadership and communication. Online courses in this 60-credit bachelor's degree completion program are delivered in an eight-week accelerated format. At the master's degree level, the university offers a fully online master's degree program in communication sciences and disorders. The majority of the online programs are professional development programs, including post-bachelor's and professional development programs for health professionals and educators.
Career and Employment Outlook
Eau Claire's economy relies on industries such as health care, manufacturing, retail and information technologies. Education is also a leading industry in the city, with school districts and colleges employing thousands of workers. Four of Eau Claire's largest employers are health care providers and hospitals, adding health services to the list of top industries.
According to the City of Eau Claire Economic Development Division, nearly 30 percent of Eau Claire's workforce is employed in education and health services. Another 7,500 residents are employed in retail, making retail trade one of the city's largest industries. Other industries with employment levels over 10 percent include manufacturing, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality. High-paying occupations in Eau Claire include:
- Computer/Information Systems Managers
- Industrial Production Managers
- Accountants and Auditors
- Computer Programmers
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Eau Claire's five largest employers include hospitals, schools and manufacturers, each employing more than 1,000 residents. The top ten employers in Eau Claire are shown below.
| EMPLOYER | NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES |
| Menard Inc. | 4,500+ |
| Mayo Clinic Health Care System | 3,500+ |
| Eau Claire Area School District | 1,200 |
| University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire | 1,300+ |
| Sacred Heart Hospital | 1,300+ |
| Midelfort Clinic Ltd. Mayo Health | 1,000+ |
| United Healthcare Services Inc. | 500-999 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | 500-999 |
| City of Eau Claire | 500-999 |
| Gerber Products Co. | 500-999 |
Colleges & Universities in Eau Claire
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES IN EAU CLAIRE
| COLLEGE | SIZE | TUITION | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 12,908 | $6,733 | Public |
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS IN EAU CLAIRE
| COLLEGE | SIZE | TUITION | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | 8,481 | $3,356 | Public |