How to Apply for Admissions

1. Submit the Wisconsin Technical College System application for admission form and the $30 one-time nonrefundable application fee. (Fee is subject to change.) Apprentices, Farm Business and Production Management program students, and "undecided" students (students who have not declared a program of study), are not required to pay the application fee or submit the application form.

2. Submit official transcripts from high school and from all previous colleges and universities attended. If the high school transcript is submitted prior to graduation from high school, an official final transcript must be sent after graduation. GED/HSED or Ability to Benefit scores may be substituted for the high school graduation requirement. Non-high school graduates without a GED/HSED are required to take ASSET or an acceptable substitute. For further information, contact the GOAL counselor at Western, 608.785.9536.

3. Complete the ASSET or COMPASS, a series of basic skills tests. ASSET or COMPASS is required of all program students except Farm Business and Production Management program students, and it is not required of apprentices and undecided students. Learn more about ASSET or COMPASS

There is a $20 charge for the initial admissions test session and no charge for each retest session scheduled. For more information, call (608) 785-9566. Students will be asked to provide their social security number at the time of testing. A picture identification is required. Students needing special accommodations to take the ASSET or COMPASS should call at least one week prior to testing-call the instructional support specialist or the V/TTY number, 608.785.9551.

You may not have to take the ASSET or COMPASS if you have ASSET, COMPASS or ACT scores dated within the last five years, or 12 credits of appropriate post secondary course work with a minimum of a C average.

4. Once all required admissions materials have been received, students will receive a letter indicating one of the following: (a) acceptance into the program or be placed on to waiting list to which the student has applied (note: admissions requirements vary from program to program), or (b) the student's application will be given further consideration, (c) an appointment must be made to meet with a career counselor to discuss admission and application status, .

When an acceptance letter is received, a position is reserved for that student up to the assigned date of registration. Positions not filled on the assigned registration date may be released. Acceptance does not guarantee a starting date at the next time of entry for programs where capacity has been reached.

If you have questions or need additional information, please call the Admissions Office in La Crosse at (608) 785-9571, or the Western campus nearest you:

  • Black River Falls 715.284.2253
  • Independence 715.985.3392
  • Mauston 608.847.7364
  • Tomah 608.374.7700
  • Viroqua 608.637.2612.