Choosing UW-Eau Claire means life in the state’s No. 1 city

The excellence of UW-Eau Claire, the “everyday extraordinary” that this university is known for goes a long way in selling a Blugold education. Another major factor that increasingly makes UW-Eau Claire an excellent college choice for many is the greatness of the city of Eau Claire — so great, in fact, that it’s currently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as its No. 1 in Best Places to Live in Wisconsin.

U.S. News & World Report cited Eau Claire’s top ranks in areas like population, median age, household income, short commutes, low unemployment and home values. Appleton, Waukesha, Oshkosh and Wausau rounded out the top five. Eau Claire landed at No. 49 on the national list of best cities to live in, among only nine other Midwest cities in the top 50.

A perfect campus and city pairing

Billy Felz, vice chancellor for enrollment management, is well versed in selling UW-Eau Claire and the city that surrounds it as sort of a “package deal.”

“We were not at all surprised to see U.S. News rank Eau Claire as the No. 1 city in Wisconsin and in the top 50 in the U.S.,” Felz says. “We continually tell the story of what an amazing university our new students have chosen, and what a great city they will find themselves in.”

Felz adds that rankings like this also affirm why high numbers of students stay in the Chippewa Valley after completing their degrees — a number continuing to rise each year.

“The truth is that Eau Claire is a great place for young alumni to thrive as new professionals,” Felz says.

Growing where they were planted: Grads sticking around Eau Claire

One of those young Blugold professionals Felz refers to is Hope Turvaville, recently featured in UW-Eau Claire's “True Blu” alumni profile series. As the director of workforce at the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Turvaville has a unique perspective on what draws young professionals to the Eau Claire area.

“Eau Claire has the unique quality of feeling like a small town and a busy city at the same time — it's not too big, it's not too small. The central location and proximity to major cities makes it an ideal place to be in our state,” Turvaville says.

“There are fun events happening year-round, new foods to try, local businesses to support and countless ways to get involved and feel connected to those around you,” Turvaville says.

“The community is filled with strong partnerships, and if you tap into them, it's easy to feel at home here. I’m so happy with my decision to stay here after graduation. At this point, it would take a whole lot to convince me to leave Eau Claire,” she adds.

Likewise, Jeremy Gragert is a 2005 graduate of UW-Eau Claire who has since been an active member of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Valley communities. Gragert has served many organizations like the Chippewa Valley Museum, Wisconsin Climate Table Contract, Eau Claire City Council, Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance, Wisconsin Bike Federation and Citizen Action of Northwest Wisconsin.

Gragert is currently seeking another term on the Eau Claire City Council as a candidate for City Council president. As someone who began his civic engagement as an undergraduate, Gragert says that part of what makes Eau Claire a top city in the state is a university that encourages community engagement and passions that students carry on well beyond their graduation date.

"Eau Claire is truly a special place where a person can arrive as a college student, become engaged in shaping the community’s future and build a career that reflects their values over time,” Gragert says.

“Like all communities, we have our challenges as well, but that is why having a university that is committed to student-faculty collaborative research, innovation and engagement is so impactful for the quality of life in Eau Claire.

“Eau Claire is a place where people can make a difference, where people can realize the changes they want to see. They become invested because they see results repeatedly in so many ways. I am eager for the chance to serve the city once again, for all those reasons,” Gragert says.

A dream job ‘selling Eau Claire’

Even those not directly connected to the university are often able to value the connective tissue between the city and campus, both in their personal life experiences and often also their business outcomes.

Jane Seymour Kunick, owner agent at Home Town Realty Group in Eau Claire, has practiced residential real estate here for 30 years. She says she has always recognized the added value that UW-Eau Claire brings to this real estate market.

“As a realtor in my hometown, one of my greatest joys is showing off Eau Claire to clients new to the area,” Kunick says.

“UW-Eau Claire is always a major highlight on my tours, and not just for the sheer beauty of the campus. As I describe the incredible scene in Eau Claire for live music, theater, festivals, food and more, it becomes clear to clients that the university is key in so many of those factors,” Kunick says, citing tour stops like Haas Fine Arts Center, Pablo Center at the Confluence and the Sonnentag Event Center.

Kunick says she’s proud to sell not just homes, but the place where she grew up and raised her kids.

“Our agency is blessed to help many new residents find their homes here, along with established residents finding new homes here, because they say they’d never leave Eau Claire. What a great job we have — sometimes this place truly sells itself!”

While college students are not generally in the home-buying market, it’s encouraging for interested students and their families to know that UW-Eau Claire sits in the center of a fantastic small city. This is an active, thriving community where college students are engaged in community projects, internships and activities that go a long way in enriching their education outcomes. And sometimes they just stay in this community they have come to love.