Viterbo University
La Crosse, Wisconsin · Private Nonprofit · 72.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Viterbo University scores 58 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale, reflecting a 10.9-year payback period and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.605 against average 6-year earnings of $41,300. The headline numbers reveal a school where outcomes are heavily shaped by what program a student chooses. Registered Nursing drives 152 graduates annually at $72,463 year-one and $77,735 year-four with a B-grade ROI - a program that performs solidly relative to the institution's aggregate. Outside nursing, results deteriorate quickly: Business Administration clocks a C-grade ROI with median debt of $30,975 against $70,009 four-year earnings, and Social Work carries $31,000 median debt against $57,159 four-year earnings, a 0.668 debt-to-earnings ratio. Drama/Theatre graduates face an F-grade ROI, with $19,930 year-one earnings against $26,906 debt. At a sticker of $34,250 and net price of $21,260, Viterbo charges more than it delivers for most programs outside healthcare. Families should stress-test the nursing pathway, where outcomes justify the investment, and approach non-healthcare majors with heightened scrutiny.
Viterbo University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,250/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,250/yr |
| Average net price | $21,260/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $85,040 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,660 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,249 |
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: $34,250/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,260/year, or roughly $85,040 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 $13,657/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,365/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,300) and comes to 0.60, 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 | $13,657 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,927 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,463 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,847 |
| $110,001+ | $26,365 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from the 0-30000 income bracket pay $13,657 net price per year at Viterbo - a meaningful $54,628 total estimated cost over four years. At $41,300 average six-year earnings, payback takes 10.9 years on average. The nursing program is the exception: year-one nursing earnings of $72,463 make the investment recoverable in roughly 3 years from a $54,628 base. For non-nursing majors, low-income students face a challenging debt-to-earnings picture.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $16,463 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $20,847 per year. At these net price levels, the institution-wide 10.9-year payback is most acute - families in this range are paying real money without the benefit of maximum grant aid.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $26,365 net per year, or roughly $105,000 total over four years against $41,300 average earnings. Full-pay enrollment in nursing is defensible.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Viterbo University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $77,735 | B |
| Teacher Education | $44,961 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,009 | C |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $31,051 | F |
| Accounting | $60,949 | - |
| Social Work | $57,159 | C |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $68,568 | C |
| Psychology | $52,596 | - |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $63,328 | - |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Viterbo's strongest program by volume and outcomes: 152 graduates, $72,463 year-one earnings, $77,735 four-year earnings, median debt $29,013, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.40 (ROI grade B). The earnings are consistent with regional nursing wages in Wisconsin, and the debt load is manageable relative to take-home pay. Nursing represents the clearest financial justification for enrolling at Viterbo - the program delivers a stable, well-compensated career path that the institution's other programs do not match.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates earn $53,852 at year one and $70,009 at year four, against median debt of $30,975 - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.575 (ROI grade C).
Social Work
Social Work produces 11 graduates with $46,384 year-one and $57,159 four-year earnings against $31,000 median debt, a 0.668 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C). Social work is characteristically low-earning early in a career; the debt load at Viterbo compounds this challenge.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Theatre produces 21 graduates with $19,930 year-one earnings and $31,051 four-year earnings against $26,906 median debt, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.35 (ROI grade F). Graduates owe nearly 1.4 times their annual earnings the day they leave. Students pursuing theatre at Viterbo carry real financial risk; prospective students should understand these numbers before enrolling.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Viterbo University’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 | 72.4% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-26 |
| Enrollment | 1,249 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,309 |
Viterbo admits 72.4% of applicants, placing it firmly in the broadly accessible tier. ACT 22-26 is the mid-range for admitted students. No SAT mid-range data is available. Admission is not a filter - students who apply and meet basic academic requirements are typically accepted. The decision to enroll should hinge on program fit and financial aid package, not selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Viterbo's aggregate ROI score is 58.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viterbo University (this school) | 58 | $21,260 | $55,660 |
| Bellin College | 72 | $37,408 | $76,222 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Luther College | 60 | $23,097 | $59,850 |
| Walsh University | 58 | $20,493 | $59,764 |
| Alverno College | 39 | $22,540 | $53,145 |
Who Thrives Here
Viterbo is a small Catholic liberal arts university in La Crosse, Wisconsin, with 1,249 undergraduates. The admissions profile is open-access at 72.4% acceptance; ACT composite mid-range is 22-26, with no SAT data reported. The Pell grant rate of 26.3% suggests a mix of lower- and middle-income students. Students drawn to nursing, dietetics, or teacher education in a values-oriented religious setting will find structured pathways.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Viterbo University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $21,260 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,660 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 68.4% graduation rate.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, 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.
Viterbo University: Common Questions
Is Viterbo University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Viterbo University scores 58/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,260 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $55,660 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Viterbo University 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 $21,260 a year, or roughly $85,040 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 Viterbo University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,660 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,860 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 Viterbo University?
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 10.9 years for Viterbo University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Viterbo University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $41,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. 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 Viterbo University?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.4%, 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.