Wisconsin Lutheran College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Private Nonprofit · 78.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 50/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Wisconsin Lutheran College scores 50 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. This small Lutheran liberal arts college in Milwaukee has 943 enrolled students and a mission rooted in Christian faith formation alongside academic preparation. Average 6-year earnings of $37,200 against a $36,110 tuition and $23,245 net price produce an 11.8-year payback period. Registered Nursing (22 graduates) earns $72,598 at year one and $82,669 at year four (ROI grade B) and is the college's clear financial standout. Business Administration (25 graduates) earns $52,966 at year one. Teacher Education (19 graduates) earns $49,485 at year one. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.699 across the institution reflects a college where many graduates enter lower-to-moderate-wage careers in education, ministry, or service fields. The Milwaukee location provides access to Wisconsin's healthcare, manufacturing, and business employment markets.
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,110/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,110/yr |
| Average net price | $23,245/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $92,980 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,664 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 943 |
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: $36,110/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $23,245/year, or roughly $92,980 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 $18,190/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,019/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,000, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,200) and comes to 0.70, 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 | $18,190 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,913 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,519 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,475 |
| $110,001+ | $28,019 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $18,190 net per year at Wisconsin Lutheran. Four-year costs of roughly $73,000 against $37,200 average 6-year earnings produce a difficult financial picture without careful program selection. Low-income students should focus on nursing or business, where year-one earnings above $50,000 significantly improve the payback horizon. The 83.4% repayment rate is reassuring - most graduates do service their loans - but the 63.6% completion rate remains a risk factor.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $20,519 per year, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $20,475. Total four-year costs of $82,000-$82,000 require students in this bracket to be clear-eyed about their earning trajectory. Business and nursing graduates at these costs have defensible ROI; kinesiology and social science graduates face a longer payback.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $28,019 net per year. At $112,000 over four years, WLC's case rests on mission fit and community rather than financial efficiency. The 11.8-year payback period at this cost level requires either a high-earning program choice or an explicit acceptance that vocational and faith formation are the primary investment rationale rather than earnings premium.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Wisconsin Lutheran College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,704 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $82,669 | B |
| Teacher Education | $53,548 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $47,737 | C |
| Psychology | $49,220 | C |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $58,335 | - |
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
Registered Nursing (22 graduates) is WLC's strongest financial program: $72,598 at year one and $82,669 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.372 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $27,000 is manageable against these earnings. Nursing at WLC provides an opportunity to pursue a faith-integrated nursing education with access to a strong regional healthcare labor market.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (25 graduates) earns $52,966 at year one and $61,704 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.510 (ROI grade C+). Year-one earnings of nearly $53,000 are solid for a small private college graduate in Milwaukee. Median debt of $27,000 requires consistent repayment, but the C+ grade reflects a manageable situation. Business graduates from WLC enter Milwaukee's professional services, financial, and manufacturing employer base.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (19 graduates) earns $49,485 at year one and $53,548 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.546 (ROI grade C+). Teacher salaries in Wisconsin reflect the public school pay scale, which provides steady if modest growth. WLC's Lutheran identity creates a natural fit with Lutheran school employment networks in the Milwaukee area and across Wisconsin. Students who prioritize mission-aligned teaching careers will find relevant community at WLC.
Psychology
Psychology (12 graduates) earns $39,874 at year one and $49,220 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.677 (ROI grade C). The earnings figures are moderate for the field, and $27,000 in median debt creates ongoing repayment pressure at these salary levels. Psychology graduates typically need graduate training for higher-earning clinical roles. Students considering this path should plan for master's or doctoral programs and model total debt accordingly.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 83.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Wisconsin Lutheran College’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 | 78.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 440-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-29 |
| Enrollment | 943 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,508 |
WLC's 78.2% admission rate is broadly accessible. The test score ranges are moderate - ACT 23-29 describes a solid but not highly competitive applicant pool. The institution evaluates fit with its Christian mission alongside academic preparation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
WLC's ROI score is 50.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Lutheran College (this school) | 50 | $23,245 | $54,664 |
| Bellin College | 72 | $37,408 | $76,222 |
| University of Saint Joseph | 52 | $27,989 | $59,908 |
| Heritage University | 51 | $14,598 | $49,416 |
| Illinois College | 50 | $18,298 | $52,575 |
| Alverno College | 39 | $22,540 | $53,145 |
Who Thrives Here
Wisconsin Lutheran admits 78.2% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 440-590 Math and 530-640 Reading, and ACT composite 23-29. Enrollment of 943 students creates an intensely personal campus where student-faculty relationships are central to the experience. Pell rate of 28.6% is moderate. WLC attracts students who seek a faith-integrated education in a small-college setting and who are comfortable with Milwaukee as a home base. Students who value community, Christian worldview, and mentoring relationships often cite WLC favorably.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Wisconsin Lutheran College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $23,245 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,664 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.8 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: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Wisconsin Lutheran College: Common Questions
Is Wisconsin Lutheran College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Wisconsin Lutheran College scores 50/100 on our ROI scale. At $23,245 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $54,664 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Wisconsin Lutheran College 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 $23,245 a year, or roughly $92,980 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 Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,664 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,864 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 Wisconsin Lutheran College?
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 11.8 years for Wisconsin Lutheran College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,000, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Wisconsin Lutheran College?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.