Western Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It enrolls 3,183 students (a mid-sized 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 (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
55/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes16
Value57
Affordability45
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Western Technical College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Western Technical College 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 $11,008 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,008
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
33%
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)
$4,820
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$7,078
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,374
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,130
Books & Supplies
$1,464
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,780
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,780
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,078
Application fee: $30 (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
$7,483
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,083
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,581
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,786
Over $110,000
$15,430
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.
$2,00010%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$11,500Medianpercentile
$12,41675%percentile
$20,64690%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 $8,250
↓ $3,250
No Pell $5,500
↓ $6,000
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $6,000
Independent students $9,500
↓ $2,000
Female students $8,083
↓ $3,417
Male students $5,500
↓ $6,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($11,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
39% of full-time students who enrolled at Western Technical College graduate within six years, and 45% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
39%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
45%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western Technical College earn a median of $45,303 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,303
Earning > $25K
74%
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
$32,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,600, about 23% 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 ↑
15.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Western Technical College is home to 3,183 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students, 57% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,183
Part-Time
57%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 77.6%2,470
Asian 5.3%167
Other 5.2%164
Black 2.5%81
Hispanic 0.1%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityLa Crosse, Wisconsin
Housing
Limited on-campus housing200 beds
Adult Learners
35%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Trimesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Western Technical College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
60 distinct programs across
14 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 Western Technical College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,430
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$7.3M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,309
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
181 instructional faculty across 1 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
Instructors
181
100%
$75,309
Pros & Cons of Western Technical College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western Technical College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Low typical debt at graduation
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Western Technical College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western Technical College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western Technical College.
Is Western Technical College hard to get into?
Western Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Technical College?
Western Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Western Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at Western Technical College is $11,008 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western Technical College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,303 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,008 per year. That's roughly 4.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Western Technical College known for?
Western Technical College is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Western Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Western Technical College are $45,303, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Western Technical College accredited?
Yes. Western Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Western Technical College?
Western Technical College enrolls 3,183 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Western Technical College?
Western Technical College graduates 39% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Western Technical College a public or private college?
Western Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is Western Technical College located?
Western Technical College is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
What programs does Western Technical College offer?
Western Technical College offers 60 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Technical College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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