WSC vs. UW-La Crosse

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin La Crosse is larger than WSC based on total student enrollment (10,446 students vs. 4,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wayne State College is located in Wayne, NE (Rural Fringe setting); University of Wisconsin La Crosse is in La Crosse, WI (Small City setting).
• Wayne State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wayne State College 19:1; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 20:1.

WSC vs. UW-La Crosse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSC or UW-La Crosse? 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 La Crosse than WSC ($14,712 vs. $16,060).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 14.2% lower than at Wayne State College ($8,702 vs. $10,142).
• University of Wisconsin La Crosse is 22.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSC (about $1,854 more per year; $10,070.00 vs. $8,216.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 137.5% higher at UW-La Crosse than at Wayne State College (about $11,301 more per year; $19,517.00 vs. $8,216.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State College than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (95% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State College students is 44.9% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin La Crosse students ($6,517 vs. $4,499).

WSC vs. UW-La Crosse Admissions comparison

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

• Wayne State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Wisconsin La Crosse 22/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WSC - Open admission; UW-La Crosse - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at WSC (3.36).

WSC vs. UW-La Crosse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSC and UW-La Crosse? 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 Wayne State College's (51%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than WSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,500 vs. $39,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State College graduates have a $3,200 lower median loan debt than UW-La Crosse graduates ($20,050 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, WSC graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UW-La Crosse graduates ($207 vs. $240).
• More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSC students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 67%)

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.