VCM vs. WLC

Deciding between VanderCook College of Music and Wisconsin Lutheran College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Wisconsin Lutheran College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCM Chicago, IL
  • WLC Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • VCM Large City
  • WLC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • VCM 323
  • WLC 1,027
  • Type
  • VCM Private 4 Year
  • WLC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCM
  • WLC #397
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCM -
  • WLC Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
  • Status
  • VCM Non-profit
  • WLC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCM
  • WLC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • WLC $36,110
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • WLC $36,110
  • Room & Board
  • VCM $14,008
  • WLC $12,250
  • Average Net Price
  • VCM $21,306
  • WLC $24,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCM $23,317
  • WLC $24,624
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCM 100%
  • WLC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCM 38
  • WLC 1,575
  • Admitted
  • VCM 34
  • WLC 1,231
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCM 89.5%
  • WLC 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • VCM 44.1%
  • WLC 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCM 1030
  • WLC 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCM 17
  • WLC 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCM 3.1
  • WLC 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCM B
  • WLC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCM Extremely Easy
  • WLC Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCM
  • WLC
  • ACT Range
  • VCM 15/20
  • WLC 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • VCM 890/1160
  • WLC 970/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCM Test optional
  • WLC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCM Apr 1, 2027
  • WLC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCM 5:1
  • WLC 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCM
    • Education (100%)
  • WLC
    • Communication (19%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCM 45%
  • WLC 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCM N/A
  • WLC $43,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCM 66%
  • WLC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCM $27,000
  • WLC $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCM $279
  • WLC $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCM 47%
  • WLC 49%
  • % Women
  • VCM 53%
  • WLC 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCM High
  • WLC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • VCM No
  • WLC No
  • % White
  • VCM 62%
  • WLC 83%
  • % Asian
  • VCM 2%
  • WLC 1%
  • % Black
  • VCM 8%
  • WLC 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCM 21%
  • WLC 5%
  • % Native American
  • VCM 0%
  • WLC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCM 0%
  • WLC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCM 4%
  • WLC 2%
  • % International
  • VCM 2%
  • WLC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCM 2%
  • WLC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCM 73%
  • WLC 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCM 27%
  • WLC 31%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • VCM Yes
  • WLC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • VCM No
  • WLC No
  • Meal Plan
  • VCM Yes
  • WLC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • VCM No
  • WLC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • VCM No
  • WLC No

Comparable Facts

Compare VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL with Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wisconsin Lutheran College is larger than VCM based on total student enrollment (1,027 students vs. 323 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Wisconsin Lutheran College is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: VanderCook College of Music 5:1; Wisconsin Lutheran College 11:1.

VCM vs. WLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or WLC? 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 VanderCook College of Music than WLC ($21,306 vs. $24,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wisconsin Lutheran College are 12.5% lower than at VanderCook College of Music ($12,250 vs. $14,008).
  • Wisconsin Lutheran College is 16.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than VCM (about $5,200 more per year; $36,110.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.8% higher at WLC than at VanderCook College of Music (about $5,200 more per year; $36,110.00 vs. $30,910.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at VanderCook College of Music as at Wisconsin Lutheran College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wisconsin Lutheran College students is 5.6% larger than aid received by VanderCook College of Music students ($24,624 vs. $23,317).

VCM vs. WLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM or WLC? 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 WLC and VCM.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wisconsin Lutheran College (1100) is 70 points higher than at VCM (1030).
  • Incoming WLC students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 17 at VCM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 890/1160; Wisconsin Lutheran College 970/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 15/20; Wisconsin Lutheran College 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCM - Test optional; WLC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCM Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WLC students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at VCM (3.1).
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than WLC (78.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.1% at VCM vs. 20.2% at WLC.

VCM vs. WLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCM and WLC? 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).

  • Wisconsin Lutheran College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than VanderCook College of Music's (45%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than VCM graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WLC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCM graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More WLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCM students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 66%)

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.