University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It enrolls 9,277 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
77/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes79
Value80
Affordability38
Selectivity55
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 75.5%, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
75.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Wisconsin-La Crosse isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,210 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,210
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,070
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,517
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,702
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,702
Books & Supplies
$120
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,148
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,148
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,593
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,224
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,766
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,608
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,394
Over $110,000
$18,991
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,98310%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$22,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,500
↓ $4,000
No Pell $17,500
↓ $5,000
Dependent students $18,022
↓ $4,478
Independent students $16,804
↓ $5,696
Female students $18,500
↓ $4,000
Male students $17,500
↓ $5,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($22,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
68% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earn a median of $60,378 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$60,378
Earning > $25K
90%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$48,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$50,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$51,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$53,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,600, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is home to 9,277 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
9,277
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
21%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 88.6%8,221
Hispanic 3.9%364
Other 3.3%302
Asian 2.0%183
International 0.7%64
Black 0.6%58
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityLa Crosse, Wisconsin
Housing
Partly residential3,220 beds available
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
63 distinct programs across
21 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,073
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$42M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,228
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
465 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
130
28%
$84,626
Associate Professors
162
35%
$73,061
Assistant Professors
150
32%
$67,858
Instructors
4
1%
$54,675
Lecturers
19
4%
$42,964
Pros & Cons of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Wisconsin-La Crosse tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse hard to get into?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 75.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has an acceptance rate of 75.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse scored between 22 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Wisconsin-La Crosse cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is $16,210 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $60,378 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,210 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse known for?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is best known for its programs in Biology, Psychology, Finance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Wisconsin-La Crosse are $60,378, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse accredited?
Yes. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse enrolls 9,277 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse a public or private college?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a Public institution.
Where is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse located?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
What programs does University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offer?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offers 63 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Psychology, Finance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Other colleges in Wisconsin share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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