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Colleges / WI / Milwaukee
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Wisconsin Lutheran College

#3 Best Business Colleges in Wisconsin
Private nonprofit Milwaukee, WI · Urban · Great Lakes · 100% data
B Earnings C+ Graduation C Selectivity
63%
C+
Graduation Rate
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
$54,664
B
Earnings (10yr)
Well above the typical college graduate
$23,245
D+
Net Price
36% more than the typical college
78%
C
Acceptance Rate
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +34% vs avg
Graduation +11% vs avg
Net Price 36% vs avg
Mobility Top 94%

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 Business Colleges in Wisconsin.

13.3× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,143,193.

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What The Data Says

1

A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

2

Earnings 34% above the national college median.

3

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, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions, Education

Why students choose Wisconsin Lutheran College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 57% overall
B
Earnings
$54,664 median
C
Value
2.4× net price
D+
Affordability
$23,245/yr net
C+
Graduation
63% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.6% climb Q1→Q5
C
Selectivity
78% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.41 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

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

1

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Wisconsin Lutheran College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wisconsin Lutheran College keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 78% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,239. The school reports a graduation rate of 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
2

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Wisconsin Lutheran College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $36,110 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $23,245 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,190 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.

$36,110
In-State Tuition
$36,110
Out-of-State
$23,245
Avg Net Price
$26,000
Median Debt
29%
Pell Grant Rate
68%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$18,190
Family Income $0–$30K
$15,913
Family Income $30K–$48K
$20,519
Family Income $48K–$75K
$28,019
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

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 national averages for graduates.

$49,095
6 Years After Entry
$58,259
8 Years
$54,664
10 Years
0.48x
Debt-to-Earnings
79%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$49,095 6yr $58,259 8yr $54,664 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

51%
100% (112)
51%
100% (112)
51%
100% (112)
51%
100% (112)

How Wisconsin Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation63%Earnings 10yr$55KNet Price$23KRetention73%Median Debt$26KPell Grant Rate29%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$18K$0-30K$16K$30-48K$21K$48-75K$28K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%2.8%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%22.5%MOBILITY0.63%

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.

$92,980
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,236,173
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,143,193
Net Return
13.3×
ROI Multiple
$23,245
Cost Per Year
$26,000
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
63%
Graduation Rate
4

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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

0.63%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
22.5%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
2.8%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$85,400
Parent Median Income

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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.72 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.72
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.01
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
4.4%
Volunteering Rate
1.00
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
$2,726,952
Federal Grants
$-1,963,945
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Wisconsin Lutheran College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 78% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,239. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 63%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wisconsin Lutheran College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Wisconsin Lutheran College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $36,110 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $23,245 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,190 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.

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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.72 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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