The Eau Claire Advantage

UNBEATABLE VALUE

Experience world-class jazz education in a community where every student gets a front-row seat to opportunity and success.

The Jazz Studies program at UW–Eau Claire blends world-class artistry with a uniquely supportive all-undergraduate environment. Here, every student shares the same four-year journey — no graduate competition, just peers fully invested in their craft and eager to collaborate. With direct access to renowned faculty and opportunities to lead ensembles, record albums, and perform regularly, students are immersed in real-world learning from the start.

Set along the Chippewa River, UWEC’s “just right” campus combines small-school community with big-school opportunities. Eau Claire itself is ranked the #1 place to live in Wisconsin and top 50 nationally — celebrated for its thriving arts scene, walkable neighborhoods, and affordable cost of living (average in-state tuition is $18,071). The city’s supportive music community offers the perfect proving ground to launch projects locally and grow them regionally — with the Twin Cities just 75 minutes away, it’s easy to take your music from Eau Claire to larger stages and audiences. This progression is built into our teaching model — students are encouraged to launch projects in Eau Claire’s supportive community, refine and grow them in the surrounding region, and ultimately bring their music to larger markets like the Twin Cities and beyond.