Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Minnesota Michigan Illinois Ohio State UW-Eau Claire UW-Seattle Purdue Maryland UT Austin IU Iowa UCSD| University of Wisconsin La Crosse | University of Wisconsin Madison | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UW-La Crosse | Wisconsin | ||
| Location | La Crosse, WI | Madison, WI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 10,299 | 49,605 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #566 | #110 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uwlax.edu | wisc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UW-La Crosse | Wisconsin | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,974 | $9,644 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,014 | $39,042 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,960 | $13,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,125 | $14,216 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,678 | $11,350 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 36% | 49% |
Admission |
UW-La Crosse | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,312 | 63,505 | ||
| Admitted | 5,356 | 27,529 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 73.2% | 43.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 43% | 28.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.6 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 22/26 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1360/1510 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UW-La Crosse | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UW-La Crosse | Wisconsin | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,500 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $22,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $230 |
Diversity |
UW-La Crosse | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 90% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
UW-La Crosse | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 48% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 44% | ||
Campus |
UW-La Crosse | Wisconsin | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than than UW-La Crosse based on total student enrollment (49,605 students vs. 10,299 students)
UW-La Crosse vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UW-La Crosse or Wisconsin?
- University of Wisconsin Madison is 20.9% more expensive to attend than UW-La Crosse for in-state tuition ($9,644.00 vs. $7,974.00)
- Out of state tuition is 129.5% higher at Wisconsin than University of Wisconsin La Crosse ($39,042.00 vs. $17,014.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin La Crosse than Wisconsin ($13,125 vs. $14,216)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 69.6% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Madison ($7,960 vs. $13,500)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Wisconsin Madison than University of Wisconsin La Crosse (49% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 142.6% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin La Crosse ($11,350 vs. $4,678)
UW-La Crosse vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UW-La Crosse or Wisconsin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wisconsin or UW-La Crosse .
- The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Madison (1300) is 170 points higher than at UW-La Crosse (1130)
- Incoming Wisconsin students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UW-La Crosse (25)
- Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UW-La Crosse (3.6)
- UW-La Crosse has a higher acceptance rate (73.2%) than Wisconsin (43.3%)
UW-La Crosse vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UW-La Crosse or Wisconsin? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Wisconsin and UW-La Crosse.
- The graduation rate at Wisconsin is higher than University of Wisconsin La Crosse (82% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn on average $15,300 more per year than UW-La Crosse graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $49,500)
- University of Wisconsin Madison students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than UW-La Crosse graduates. ($22,250 vs. $23,250)
- Wisconsin graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than UW-La Crosse graduates. ($230 vs. $240)
- More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UW-La Crosse students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/