UW-La Crosse vs. UWM

Should I go to University of Wisconsin La Crosse or University of Wisconsin Milwaukee? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UW-La Crosse or UWM is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Wisconsin La Crosse vs. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee comparison
University of Wisconsin La Crosse University of Wisconsin Milwaukee College 3 College 4
University of Wisconsin La Crosse University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
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Overview

UW-La Crosse UWM
Location La Crosse, WI Milwaukee, WI
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 10,274 22,676
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #548 #840
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwlax.edu uwm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UW-La Crosse UWM
Tuition (In State) $7,585 $8,091
Tuition (Out of State) $16,404 $19,956
Room & Board $6,942 $10,896
Avg Net Price $13,130 $16,551
Avg Grant Aid $3,395 $5,963
% Receiving Grant Aid 64% 78%

Admission

UW-La Crosse UWM
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,290 16,852
Admitted 5,413 14,546
Acceptance Rate 74.3% 86.3%
Enrolled % 43% 23%
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, 2024

Academics

UW-La Crosse UWM
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

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 42% 44%
% Women 58% 56%
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 81% 87%
% Out-of-State 19% 12%

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 (22,676 students vs. 10,274 students)

UW-La Crosse vs. UWM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UW-La Crosse or UWM?

  • University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is 6.7% more expensive to attend than UW-La Crosse for in-state tuition ($8,091.00 vs. $7,585.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.7% higher at UWM than University of Wisconsin La Crosse ($19,956.00 vs. $16,404.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin La Crosse than UWM ($13,130 vs. $16,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 57% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee ($6,942 vs. $10,896)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee than University of Wisconsin La Crosse (78% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Milwaukee students is 75.6% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin La Crosse ($5,963 vs. $3,395)

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 (86.3%) than UW-La Crosse (74.3%)

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/