Wartburg College vs. WLC

Comparable Facts

Compare Wartburg College in Waverly, IA with Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wartburg College is larger than WLC based on total student enrollment (1,483 students vs. 1,027 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wartburg College is located in Waverly, IA (Distant Town setting); Wisconsin Lutheran College is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
• Wartburg College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wartburg College 13:1; Wisconsin Lutheran College 11:1.

Wartburg College vs. WLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wartburg College 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 Wartburg College than WLC ($24,031 vs. $24,095).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wartburg College are 4.1% lower than at Wisconsin Lutheran College ($11,750 vs. $12,250).
• Wisconsin Lutheran College is 37.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wartburg College (about $9,860 more per year; $36,110.00 vs. $26,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.6% higher at WLC than at Wartburg College (about $9,860 more per year; $36,110.00 vs. $26,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wisconsin Lutheran College than at Wartburg College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wartburg College students is 63.8% larger than aid received by Wisconsin Lutheran College students ($40,336 vs. $24,624).

Wartburg College vs. WLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wartburg College 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 Wartburg College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wisconsin Lutheran College (1100) is 30 points higher than at Wartburg College (1070).
• Incoming WLC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at Wartburg College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 930/1200; Wisconsin Lutheran College 970/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 21/27; Wisconsin Lutheran College 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wartburg College - Test optional; WLC - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman WLC students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Wartburg College (3.48).
• WLC has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Wartburg College (75.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.6% at Wartburg College vs. 20.2% at WLC.

Wartburg College vs. WLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wartburg College 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).

• The graduation rate at Wartburg College is the same as at Wisconsin Lutheran College (63% vs. 63%).
• Graduates from Wartburg College earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than WLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,100 vs. $43,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Wartburg College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, WLC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wartburg College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Wartburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WLC students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 77%)

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.