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University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire sits about 11,017 students on a campus that hugs the Chippewa River in the northwestern corner of the state, where the city's identity runs on water and the arts. The river cuts campus in two, with a footbridge linking the halves and trails along both banks. Downtown is a short walk across the water, anchored by Phoenix Park at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers, where a riverfront amphitheater hosts concerts and the Saturday farmers market all summer. The Pablo Center, the city's riverfront arts hall, ties campus and downtown together. The vibe is outdoorsy and creative: kayaking, bike trails, and music festivals set the rhythm. Most students walk or bike across the bridges.
UW-Eau Claire follows the Universities of Wisconsin residency requirement, so first and second year students live on campus unless they are approved to commute or granted an exemption. Plan on two years of on-campus living as the default. Most students move off campus after their second year.
The main exemption is for students commuting from a parent or guardian's home within 40 miles of campus. Apply for the exemption rather than assuming you qualify. After the second year, most students move into the Water Street area and the residential streets just across the river.
The rental process is straightforward for a mid-sized Wisconsin city: landlords typically run a credit check and want proof of income, and students often need a parent or guardian as a guarantor on the lease. Lease terms commonly run a full twelve months even though you are really on campus nine, so plan for summer. Confirm how rooms and shared spaces are split in older converted houses, and ask which utilities are included since older homes can run high through a Wisconsin winter.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire before signing a lease.
Eau Claire's student leasing cycle runs early and fast for the close-in places. The houses and apartments within walking distance of campus, especially around Water Street, tend to get claimed in the fall and winter for the next academic year. Returning students lock in their spots first, so commit over the fall semester if you want a specific house. Lining up a roommate group early is the surest way to land a walkable place.
The close-in places around Water Street get claimed in the fall and winter, so that is the window that matters most. Classes start in early September, so most leases turn over for an August move-in. Commit over the fall semester if you want a specific house with friends. Returning students claim the best near-campus spots first, so organizing early pays off.
This is not a market that shuts you out if you are late. The neighborhoods around campus carry a steady supply of apartments and houses, and you will still find options into late spring and early summer, just not always the closest ones. Summer subleases open up as students leave for the season. The university's off-campus housing marketplace is the cleanest place to check listings and sublets year-round.
The student hub, walkable to campus and packed with the restaurants, coffee shops, and nightlife the campus crowd lives on.
Just across the river from campus, a close-in residential neighborhood that is an easy walk to class.
A quieter, more residential feel a bit farther out from campus.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A room in a shared house or apartment near campus usually runs $400-$650/month per person. Older converted houses around Water Street and the close-in streets land at the low end, while newer buildings across the river sit higher. Budget another $40-$100/month for utilities, since older homes can run up in a Wisconsin winter.
Other universities in Eau Claire share a similar off-campus housing market.
Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public two-year institution serving western Wisconsin, with its main campus on Alpine Road in Eau Claire. CVTC offers more than 100 programs across technical, health, business, and trades disciplines, drawing students from across the region preparing for workforce entry or…
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