University of WI-La Crosse (Youth Options or Course Options)

Funding Source – the school district will pay for college courses under two separate funding laws: Youth Options and Course Options. Please visit familiarize yourself with these laws.
**The Sparta Area School District Board of Education is the approving authority for all Youth Option and Course Option applications.

The following paperwork is required to be able to take college courses at UWL. These instructions are for all non-degree seeking courses.

  1. Pick which funding application you are submitting:
    Youth Options Application – Turn all application material into the Student Service Office by Oct 1 for 2nd semester courses or March 1 for 1st semester courses. More information is found on DPI’s website
    Course Options Application – Due to the college 6 weeks prior to the start of the course. It is highly encouraged to have your school counselor look over your application for errors prior to mailing. More information is found on DPI’s website
  2. A copy of your DPI Course Options application should be submitted to Mrs. Sloan, School Counselor in the Student Services Office. The Mrs. Sloan will submit the copied DPI Course Options application to the Sparta Area School Board and upon approval to the college/public institution.
  3. The same time that the Sparta Area School Board is approving the Course Options application, the student should mail all other application material and the original DPI Course Options application to the college/public institution. This will allow both education institutions to go through the approval process at the same time. It will save the student time. All application material is to be mailed by the student to the college/public institution. Mail all application material together and earlier than 6 weeks, if possible. Mail Course Option application material to:
    University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
    Admissions Office
    142 Clearly Center

1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601

  1. Select desired UWL course(s) Pay attention to course prerequisites. English, math, foreign language classes require placement exams.
  2. Provide a list of course names and course descriptions with your application material. You should copy and paste course descriptions. Youth Options requires that students exhaust course work in the high school before being allowed to take the same course at the college level. Course Options does not have any prerequisite high school courses.
    *Colleges do require that Youth/Course Option student meet college admission criteria.
  1. Read UWL’s webpage for Special Non-Degree Student/HS Special
    □ High School Special Student/Youth Options/Course Options
    □ Application Process for Youth Options or High School Special students
    □ Application Process for Course Options students
  2. Fees: Please note that the Course Options law allows for college/public institutions to charge students/parents up to 50% of the tuition. The school district is responsible for the other 50% of the tuition. UWL states: Students enrolled in course options are responsible to pay 25% of tuition and fees. The high school is responsible to pay 50% of the tuition and fees. UWL covers the remaining 25% of the tuition and fees.

Youth Options covers the cost of tuition, books, and fees. However, if a student fails the course, the student must reimburse the schools district.

  1. Complete the High School/UW-La Crosse Enrollment Information Sheet. This is required for both Youth Options and Course Options.
  2. Complete UW System Application online. Read the following website before you fill out the online application Select the appropriate reason for applying and choose "Undergraduate Special/Non-degree" in the "Applying As" field.
  3. Take the ACT. Register for the ACT at – have your scores sent directly toUWL. If you have already taken the ACT, log into your ACT account and pay to have your scores sent to UWL. Please pay attention to UWL ACT and class rank requirements.
  4. Send high school transcript to UWL. Request at

Please READ all the website information so you understand the differences between Youth Options and Course Options. If you have questions, schedule an appointment with a high school counselor.