University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, Wisconsin · Public · 75.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 76/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse scores 76 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. With in-state tuition of $10,070 and a net price of $16,210, UW-La Crosse delivers solid outcomes at a public-school price. Average 6-year earnings of $40,100 and a 71.0% completion rate are the core metrics. The 8.1-year payback period is acceptable at this cost level. Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science (25 graduates, $68,564 year-one, ROI grade B+) and Computer and Information Sciences (54 graduates, $65,243 year-one, ROI grade B+) are the top performers. Finance (201 graduates, $55,965 year-one, ROI grade B) is the highest-volume strong program. Biology (234 graduates) earns a C-grade ROI at $36,823 year-one - a common pattern for pre-health students who depress near-term earnings while pursuing medical or professional school. Repayment rate of 85.8% at three years is solid. Median debt of $22,500 is moderate. The school's health and clinical science programs benefit from a strong regional healthcare labor market in the La Crosse area. Fine and Studio Arts (20 graduates, ROI grade F, $19,407 year-one) is the clear underperformer.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse scores in the top 17% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,070/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,517/yr |
| Average net price | $16,210/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $64,840 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,378 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $239 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,277 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $10,070/year ($19,517/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $16,210/year, or roughly $64,840 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $8,224/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,991/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,500, which works out to about $239 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,100) and comes to 0.56, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,224 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,766 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,608 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,394 |
| $110,001+ | $18,991 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $8,224 per year at UW-La Crosse, and the 30001-48000 bracket pays $8,766 - very low net prices that make this school genuinely accessible. Four years at $8,224 totals $32,896. Against average six-year earnings of $40,100 and a 71.0% completion rate, the financial case for low-income students in health or business programs is strong. The risk is completion: nearly 30% of entrants do not graduate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $10,608 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $17,394. At $10,608-$17,394 annually, four-year cost runs $42,432-$69,576. Against average earnings of $40,100 at year six, the payback math is acceptable and improves significantly for finance, CS, and clinical science students.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $18,991 per year, totaling $75,964 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $67,446 | C |
| Psychology | $55,173 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $76,227 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $58,233 | D |
| Marketing | $61,191 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $46,328 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,521 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,470 | C |
| Accounting | $78,296 | B |
| Public Health | $55,418 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science is UW-La Crosse's top ROI program: 25 graduates, $68,564 year-one, $73,439 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.284 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $19,500 at $68k year-one earnings is a 0.28 ratio - very manageable. This program feeds the regional healthcare economy in La Crosse and western Wisconsin. Starting salaries in the upper $60s for a clinical lab path at a public school with low net price is a compelling deal.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (54 graduates) earns $65,243 year-one and $93,633 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.345 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $22,479 at $65k year-one is a 0.35 ratio. The four-year trajectory to $93k shows strong career progression - likely into software development and IT management roles in Minneapolis-St. Paul or Chicago, both within reasonable distance of La Crosse.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is the highest-volume strong program at 201 graduates with $55,965 year-one and $76,227 year-four and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.391 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $21,909 at $55k year-one is manageable. For Wisconsin students pursuing finance careers in regional banking, insurance, or corporate finance, these outcomes at in-state tuition represent solid value. The volume of 201 graduates gives this program's figures reliability.
Accounting
Accounting (68 graduates) earns $62,450 year-one and $78,296 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.373 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $23,264 at $62k year-one is a 0.37 ratio - comfortable. UW-La Crosse accounting graduates place into regional CPA firms and corporate accounting roles across the Midwest. Year-four earnings of $78k reflect CPA-track advancement for those who pursue licensure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.5% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-27 |
| Enrollment | 9,277 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 14.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,349 |
At 75.5% admission with ACT 22-27, UW-La Crosse is accessible within a moderate academic profile. The Scorecard does not report SAT ranges. Competitive programs within the university (nursing, clinical science) may have higher internal bars. For Wisconsin residents, the in-state tuition of $10,070 makes this an exceptionally cost-efficient entry point.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (this school) | 76 | $16,210 | $60,378 |
| University of North Dakota | 77 | $18,551 | $63,552 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 76 | $11,900 | $64,270 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | 75 | $13,310 | $59,637 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 72 | $16,550 | $58,561 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 64 | $14,158 | $55,356 |
Who Thrives Here
UW-La Crosse admits 75.5% of applicants with ACT mid-range of 22-27 (SAT ranges not reported). At 9,277 enrolled, it is a medium-sized public comprehensive. The Pell grant rate of 14.4% is low, suggesting a predominantly middle-class and upper-income student population. La Crosse is a mid-size Wisconsin city with a regional healthcare economy that feeds strong clinical program placements. Students targeting clinical lab science, finance, computer science, or business administration find the most compelling ROI. Students who prefer an active outdoor environment near bluffs and rivers will find La Crosse itself an asset.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse pays off. You'd pay about $16,210 a year after aid ($64,840 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $60,378 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 8.1 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 71.0% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $22,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse: Common Questions
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Wisconsin-La Crosse pays off. It scores 76/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $16,210 a year after aid ($64,840 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $60,378 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 8.1 years to earn back.
How much does University of Wisconsin-La Crosse cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,210 a year, or roughly $64,840 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,378 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,578 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.1 years for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,500, against average earnings of $40,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
The six-year graduation rate is 71.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.