UW-La Crosse vs. Parkside

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin La Crosse is larger than Parkside based on total student enrollment (10,446 students vs. 3,925 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 Parkside is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
• University of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Parkside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Wisconsin La Crosse 20:1; University of Wisconsin Parkside 20:1.

UW-La Crosse vs. Parkside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UW-La Crosse or Parkside? 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 Parkside than UW-La Crosse ($10,234 vs. $14,712).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 0.5% lower than at University of Wisconsin Parkside ($8,702 vs. $8,750).
• University of Wisconsin La Crosse is 21.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Parkside (about $1,800 more per year; $10,070.00 vs. $8,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12% higher at UW-La Crosse than at University of Wisconsin Parkside (about $2,088 more per year; $19,517.00 vs. $17,429.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wisconsin Parkside than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (56% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Parkside students is 68.9% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin La Crosse students ($7,598 vs. $4,499).

UW-La Crosse vs. Parkside Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UW-La Crosse or Parkside? 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 Parkside and UW-La Crosse.

• Incoming UW-La Crosse students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 20 at Parkside).
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Wisconsin La Crosse 22/26; University of Wisconsin Parkside 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UW-La Crosse - Test optional; Parkside - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Parkside (3.31).
• UW-La Crosse has a higher acceptance rate (75.5%) than Parkside (75.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.2% at UW-La Crosse vs. 26.1% at Parkside.

UW-La Crosse vs. Parkside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UW-La Crosse and Parkside? 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 Parkside's (28%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than Parkside graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,500 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Parkside graduates have a $285 lower median loan debt than UW-La Crosse graduates ($22,965 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, Parkside graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UW-La Crosse graduates ($237 vs. $240).
• More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Parkside students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 54%)

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.