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UW-Eau Claire University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Wisconsin University of Phoenix-Madison Campus UWO UW-Green Bay UWSP UW-Platteville Buffalo State College DePaul Minnesota State University-Mankato Minnesota| University of Wisconsin La Crosse | University of Wisconsin Milwaukee | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UW-La Crosse | UWM | ||
| Location | La Crosse, WI | Milwaukee, WI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 10,299 | 22,481 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #566 | #845 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uwlax.edu | uwm.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UW-La Crosse | UWM | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,974 | $8,455 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,014 | $20,455 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,960 | $10,980 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,125 | $16,499 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,678 | $5,305 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 36% | 83% |
Admission |
UW-La Crosse | UWM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,312 | 16,662 | ||
| Admitted | 5,356 | 14,736 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 73.2% | 88.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 43% | 22.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.6 | 3.16 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/26 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | ||||
| 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 | Sep 1, 2025 |
Academics |
UW-La Crosse | UWM | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UW-La Crosse | UWM | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 40% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,500 | $46,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $24,958 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $258 |
Diversity |
UW-La Crosse | UWM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 90% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
UW-La Crosse | UWM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 19% | 10% | ||
Campus |
UW-La Crosse | UWM | ||
| 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 Milwaukee is larger than than UW-La Crosse based on total student enrollment (22,481 students vs. 10,299 students)
UW-La Crosse vs. UWM Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UW-La Crosse or UWM?
- University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is 6% more expensive to attend than UW-La Crosse for in-state tuition ($8,455.00 vs. $7,974.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20.2% higher at UWM than University of Wisconsin La Crosse ($20,455.00 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 UWM ($13,125 vs. $16,499)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 37.9% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee ($7,960 vs. $10,980)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee than University of Wisconsin La Crosse (83% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Milwaukee students is 13.4% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin La Crosse ($5,305 vs. $4,678)
UW-La Crosse vs. UWM Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UW-La Crosse or UWM? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UWM or UW-La Crosse .
- The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (1130) is 80 points higher than at UWM (1050)
- Incoming UW-La Crosse students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UWM (23)
- Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at UWM (3.16)
- UWM has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than UW-La Crosse (73.2%)
UW-La Crosse vs. UWM Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UW-La Crosse or UWM? 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 UWM and UW-La Crosse.
- The graduation rate at UW-La Crosse is higher than University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (68% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn on average $3,400 more per year than UWM graduates after ten years. ($49,500 vs. $46,100)
- University of Wisconsin La Crosse students graduate with a $1,708 lower median federal student loan debt than UWM graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,958)
- UW-La Crosse graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than UWM graduates. ($240 vs. $258)
- More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UWM students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 62%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/