Wisconsin Lutheran College
#3 Best Biology Colleges in Wisconsin- Graduation Rate
- 63% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $54,664 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $23,245 D+
- 36% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 78% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.3 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Biology Colleges in Wisconsin.
Every $1 spent returns $13.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,143,193.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 34% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Wisconsin Lutheran College Matters
Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private college in Milwaukee, 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
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 943
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 33
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Education
Why students choose Wisconsin Lutheran College
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 78% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 970–1230. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,245 a year after grants and scholarships — 36% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $54,664 ten years after enrolling — 34% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 93% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.72 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 943 students and a 78% acceptance rate, Wisconsin Lutheran College is a welcoming choice for those looking for a smaller, focused educational environment. Students here often delve into programs that align with their interests, such as Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions, Education, and Psychology. This variety allows individuals to explore different fields while receiving personalized attention from faculty.
Looking ahead, graduates from Wisconsin Lutheran College can expect to earn about $54,664 in their first ten years after completing their degree. This figure gives a sense of the potential for stable income that comes with a degree from this institution. Additionally, the college is accessible to many, with a median debt of $26,000 and 29% of students receiving Pell Grants, which helps ease the financial burden for those from low-income backgrounds.
In terms of practical costs, the net price after aid stands at $23,245, making it a manageable option for many families. While the graduation rate is 63%, the supportive community and focused academic programs tend to foster success for students who actively engage in their studies. Those who thrive here are often motivated individuals who appreciate a close-knit atmosphere and are eager to take advantage of the resources available to them.
Rankings
- #3 Best Biology Colleges in Wisconsin
- #6 Best Education Colleges in Wisconsin
- #8 Best Business Colleges in Wisconsin
- #8 Best Nursing Colleges in Wisconsin
- #9 Best Colleges in Wisconsin
- #9 Best Bachelor's Programs in Wisconsin
- #9 Best Master's Programs in Wisconsin
- #9 Best Psychology Colleges in Wisconsin
Can I Get In?
How selective Wisconsin Lutheran College 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 Wisconsin Lutheran College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Lutheran College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,239. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- SAT Average
- 1239
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 970–1230
- ACT Range
- 23–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 96%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,508
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.41
- First-Gen Students
- 29%
- Applicants
- 1,474
- Admitted
- 1,383
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 Wisconsin Lutheran College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wisconsin Lutheran College is $36,110, 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 $23,245. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,190 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $36,110
- Out-of-State
- $36,110
- Avg Net Price
- $23,245
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 68%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,190
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,913
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,519
- Family Income $110K+
- $28,019
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 Wisconsin Lutheran College — 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 Wisconsin Lutheran College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wisconsin Lutheran College earn a median of $54,664, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,095
- 8 Years
- $58,259
- 10 Years
- $54,664
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.48x
- Earning > $25K
- 79%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (112)
- 51%
- 100% (112)
- 51%
- 100% (112)
- 51%
- 100% (112)
- 51%
How Wisconsin Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Wisconsin Lutheran College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wisconsin Lutheran College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,245/year ($92,980 total). Graduates earn $54,664 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,236,173 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,143,193 (13.3× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 63% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $92,980
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,236,173
- Net Return
- $1,143,193
- ROI Multiple
- 13.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,245
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Wisconsin Lutheran College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wisconsin Lutheran College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.63%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $85,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.63%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 22.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $116,029
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,726,952
- Investment Income
- $-1,963,945
Top Programs
The fields Wisconsin Lutheran College 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 17% $55,689 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $73,800 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 12% $37,630 early-career
- Education 12% $49,829 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7%
- Social Sciences 5%
- Psychology 4% $36,815 early-career
- Communications 3% $48,428 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 Wisconsin Lutheran College'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 Wisconsin Lutheran College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Lutheran College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,239. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wisconsin Lutheran College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wisconsin Lutheran College is $36,110, 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 $23,245. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,190 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Wisconsin Lutheran College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wisconsin Lutheran College earn a median of $54,664, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Wisconsin Lutheran College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wisconsin Lutheran College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.63%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 22.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $85,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Wisconsin Lutheran College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wisconsin Lutheran College.
- Franklin CollegeFranklin, IN · Close peer62% grad $55,376 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cornell CollegeMount Vernon, IA · Close peer67% grad $53,460 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hanover CollegeHanover, IN · Close peer65% grad $53,957 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Marian UniversityFond Du Lac, WI · Close peer43% grad $53,501 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
- Central CollegePella, IA · Close peer68% grad $54,317 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Illinois CollegeJacksonville, IL · Close peer63% grad $52,575 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wisconsin Lutheran College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note