Public · La Crosse, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public institution in La Crosse, Wisconsin. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.

$16,210
Avg net price / yr
$60,378
10-yr median earnings
71.1%
150%-time completion
75.5%
Acceptance rate

The verdict

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse pairs top-quartile former-student earnings with a moderately open admit.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 15%
former-student earnings, US
75.5%
acceptance rate
71.1%
150%-time completion
+22%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Small Carnegie: Master's (L)
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this University of Wisconsin-La Crosse profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

B-
College Value Score
67/100
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings A-
$60,378
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price C-
$16,210
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate B
71.1%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$22,500
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A+
85.8%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention B+
86.5%
First-year students returning for year two
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$60,378

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$16,210

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

71.1%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 71.1%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse vs peers

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse positioned… Carnegie Classification: Master's (L) Master's (… COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $35K $63K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $8K $17K Avg Net Price ($) University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (you are here): $60K earn · $16K net · 71% grad You are here - University of Wisc… University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: $55K earn · $14K net · 62% grad University of Wisc… University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: $59K earn · $17K net · 66% grad University of Wisc… Madison Area Technical College: $45K earn · $14K net · 28% grad Madison Area Techn… University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: $52K earn · $15K net · 53% grad University of Wisc… University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh: $56K earn · $14K net · 51% grad University of Wisc… Milwaukee Area Technical College: $41K earn · $9K net · 25% grad Western Technical College: $45K earn · $11K net · 36% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How University of Wisconsin-La Crosse ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$60,378 Top 15% higher than 85% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric University of Wisconsin-La Crosse National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $60,378 #779 of 5103 85th
Average net price $16,210 #2328 of 5020 54th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 71.1% #1317 of 4858 73rd
Undergraduate enrollment 9,277 #383 of 5462 93rd

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

9,277
Undergraduate enrollment
75.5%
Acceptance rate
1,220
SAT average
71.1%
150%-time completion
$60,378
10-yr median earnings
86.5%
First-year retention

How University of Wisconsin-La Crosse ranks in Wisconsin

State rank among 78 reporting Wisconsin colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric University of Wisconsin-La Crosse State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $60,378 #6 of 78 92nd
Average net price $16,210 #36 of 71 49th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 71.1% #16 of 73 78th
Undergraduate enrollment 9,277 #6 of 78 92nd

Highest former-student earnings in Wisconsin

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1Milwaukee School of Engineering$89,070$22,453
2Marquette University$78,257$31,487
3Bellin College$76,222$37,408
4University of Wisconsin-Madison$73,792$17,354
5University of Wisconsin-Platteville$61,760$16,032
6University of Wisconsin-La CrosseThis school$60,378$16,210
7Edgewood University$59,728$26,113
8University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire$58,561$16,550
9Saint Norbert College$58,363$26,172
10University of Wisconsin-Stout$58,084$17,490
11Carroll University$58,009$15,193
12Carthage College$56,950$26,565

Admissions

Admission Rate 75.5%
SAT Average 1,220
ACT Average 24
ACT (25th-75th) 22 – 27
0%100%75.5%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $10,070
Out-of-State Tuition $19,517
Average Net Price $16,210
14.4%
Pell Grant Rate
42.3%
Federal Loan Rate
$22,500
Median Debt
$239/mo
Monthly Payment

Net price at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse swings rather than trends

Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $14,424 to $15,653 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as -1.8%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.

Lowest year
$14,424
Highest year
$15,653
Most recent (2023)
$15,374
Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $15,6532014: $15,1692015: $15,2922016: $15,0932017: $14,4242018: $14,4782019: $14,5802020: $14,6542021: $14,8392022: $15,2172023: $15,374
2013 · $15,6532023 · $15,374

Over the same years, enrollment went -1.5% (9,335 → 9,194 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

57.7%
Female
21.4%
First Generation

Outcomes

86.5%
Retention Rate
$49,626
Median Earnings (6yr)
76.3%
Earning Over $25K
85.8%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 71.1%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 86.5%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $49,626
Median earnings 10 years after entry $60,378
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 76.3%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 85.8%
Median federal student debt At completion $22,500
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $239/mo

Programs & Earnings

Field-of-study summary by credential

Credential Programs Award count Avg earnings Top earnings Avg debt
Bachelor's 38 2,068 $61,803 $93,633 $21,841
Master's 10 264 $72,372 $127,722 $27,327
Doctoral 1 0 $80,611 $80,611 $56,065
Graduate Certificate 1 0 - - -
Associate's 1 19 - - -

Top programs at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse by completer earnings

Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file

median earnings

What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Master's 61 $127,722 $37,488
Biology, General Master's 19 $109,836 -
Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's 46 $93,633 $21,470
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions Doctoral - $80,611 $56,065
Physics Bachelor's 12 $80,594 $19,500
Management Information Systems and Services Bachelor's 19 $80,552 -
Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's 77 $78,296 $20,518
Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's 192 $76,227 $20,500
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's 39 $75,197 $25,500
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Bachelor's 23 $73,439 $19,500
Economics Bachelor's 31 $71,768 $23,180
International Business Bachelor's 12 $71,022 $19,390
Mathematics Bachelor's 21 $69,288 $23,000
Insurance Bachelor's - $69,283 $17,584
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology Bachelor's 37 $68,454 $25,464

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public institution in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The acceptance rate is 75.5%. The average SAT score is 1,220. Undergraduate enrollment is 9,277 students.
How much do University of Wisconsin-La Crosse former students earn?
Federally aided former students at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $60,378 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $49,626.
How much does University of Wisconsin-La Crosse cost?
The average net price at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is $16,210. In-state tuition is $10,070 and out-of-state tuition is $19,517. Median student debt at graduation is $22,500.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has a 71.1% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 86.5%.
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse worth the student debt?
The median student debt at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is $22,500, while former students earn a median of $60,378 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 37% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 85.8% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $239.

Sources & methodology

Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.

Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.