UW-La Crosse vs. UWO

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Wisconsin La Crosse in La Crosse, WI with University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is larger than UW-La Crosse based on total student enrollment (12,953 students vs. 10,446 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Wisconsin La Crosse is located in La Crosse, WI (Small City setting); University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is in Oshkosh, WI (Small City setting).
• University of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Wisconsin La Crosse 20:1; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 22:1.

UW-La Crosse vs. UWO Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UW-La Crosse or UWO? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh than UW-La Crosse ($12,500 vs. $14,712).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 7.5% lower than at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh ($8,702 vs. $9,410).
• University of Wisconsin La Crosse is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than UWO (about $1,538 more per year; $10,070.00 vs. $8,532.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at UW-La Crosse than at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (about $3,071 more per year; $19,517.00 vs. $16,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (51% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students is 46.8% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin La Crosse students ($6,605 vs. $4,499).

UW-La Crosse vs. UWO Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UW-La Crosse or UWO? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UWO and UW-La Crosse.

• Incoming UW-La Crosse students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at UWO).
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Wisconsin La Crosse 22/26; University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UW-La Crosse - Test optional; UWO - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at UWO (3.24).
• UWO has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than UW-La Crosse (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.2% at UW-La Crosse vs. 21.4% at UWO.

UW-La Crosse vs. UWO Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UW-La Crosse and UWO? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Wisconsin La Crosse's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's (50%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than UWO graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,500 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates have a $498 lower median loan debt than UWO graduates ($23,250 vs. $23,748).
• Among borrowers, UW-La Crosse graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UWO graduates ($240 vs. $245).
• More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UWO students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.