University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
#9 Best Business Colleges in Wisconsin- Graduation Rate
- 71% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $60,378 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $16,210 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.8 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Business Colleges in Wisconsin.
Every $1 spent returns $23.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,477,855.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 48% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Matters
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public university in La Crosse, WI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 9,277
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Health Professions
Why students choose University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 76% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,210 a year after grants and scholarships — 5% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $60,378 ten years after enrolling — 48% above the typical college, against $22,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.76 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 9,300 students, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a great fit for those looking for a vibrant campus life with a strong focus on academics. The programs here are particularly strong in Business and Marketing, Biology, Psychology, Health Professions, and Education. This variety allows students to dive deep into their interests while also preparing for diverse career paths.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $60,378 within ten years. This figure is a solid indicator of how alumni are doing in the workforce, reflecting a good return on investment for their education. The affordability factor is also significant, with a net price of about $16,210 after financial aid. This makes it easier for many graduates to focus on their careers without being burdened by excessive student debt.
Speaking of debt, the median student loan debt here is $22,500, which is manageable for many graduates. The 14% Pell Grant rate shows that some students access additional aid, helping to make education here accessible. Students who tend to thrive are those who engage fully with campus resources and take advantage of the supportive community, setting themselves up for success beyond the classroom.
Rankings
- #9 Best Business Colleges in Wisconsin
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in Wisconsin
- #11 Best Master's Programs in Wisconsin
- #11 Best Communications Colleges in Wisconsin
- #13 Best Psychology Colleges in Wisconsin
- #13 Best Biology Colleges in Wisconsin
- #17 Best Colleges in Wisconsin
- #18 Best Nursing Colleges in Wisconsin
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Wisconsin-La Crosse? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in La Crosse, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,220. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 87%
- SAT Average
- 1220
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- ACT Range
- 22–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 81%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,349
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.21
- First-Gen Students
- 21%
- Applicants
- 7,290
- Admitted
- 5,413
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Wisconsin-La Crosse? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is $19,517, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,210. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,224 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,070
- Out-of-State
- $19,517
- Avg Net Price
- $16,210
- Median Debt
- $22,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 14%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,224
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,766
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,608
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,991
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earn a median of $60,378, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,626
- 8 Years
- $57,231
- 10 Years
- $60,378
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.37x
- Earning > $25K
- 76%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (872)
- 44%
- 100% (872)
- 44%
- 100% (872)
- 44%
- 100% (872)
- 44%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,210/year ($64,840 total). Graduates earn $60,378 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,542,695 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,477,855 (23.8× your investment). The median debt is $22,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 71% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $64,840
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,542,695
- Net Return
- $1,477,855
- ROI Multiple
- 23.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $16,210
- Median Debt
- $22,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 71%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,956,108
- Investment Income
- $-383,049
Top Programs
The fields University of Wisconsin-La Crosse awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 27% $67,916 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 12% $43,954 early-career
- Psychology 10% $35,163 early-career
- Health Professions 6% $68,105 early-career
- Education 6% $48,274 early-career
- Social Sciences 5% $54,760 early-career
- Humanities 4% $34,625 early-career
- Communications 4% $44,043 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Wisconsin-La Crosse? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in La Crosse, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,220. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Wisconsin-La Crosse? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is $19,517, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,210. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,224 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earn a median of $60,378, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
- University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire, WI · Close peer66% grad $58,561 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND · Close peer62% grad $63,552 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Central Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain, CT · Close peer49% grad $58,562 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell, MA · Close peer67% grad $64,874 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD · Close peer70% grad $69,960 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar net price
- University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV · Close peer62% grad $60,614 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note