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La Crosse, WI · Madison, WI
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | University of Wisconsin-Madison | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $16,210/yr | $17,354/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $8,224/yr | $4,200/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,500 | $20,484 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $8,766/yr | $4,101/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $10,608/yr | $8,134/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $17,394/yr | $17,763/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $18,991/yr | $27,292/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $239/mo | $217/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $8,702/yr | $14,124/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $8,702/yr | $12,414/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $120/yr | $1,100/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,148/yr | $3,178/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $19,593/yr | $28,679/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,070/yr | $11,603/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,517/yr | $42,103/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 14% | 16% |
| Students taking federal loans | 42% | 20% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 76% | 45% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1380–1520 |
| SAT average | 1220 | 1427 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 22–27 | 29–33 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 21–27 · Math 20–27 | English 28–34 · Math 27–33 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 7,312 | 63,505 |
| Students accepted | 5,356 | 27,529 |
| Students who enrolled | 2,301 | 7,964 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 43% | 29% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 14% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 37% | 30% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 71% | 90% |
| Freshmen who come back | 87% | 96% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $60,378/yr | $73,792/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $44,880–$81,523 | $52,171–$108,161 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 70% | 89% |
| White students graduating | 72% | 90% |
| Black students graduating | 38% | 86% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 63% | 87% |
| Asian students graduating | 75% | 90% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $49,626/yr | $61,275/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 84% | 86% |
| Graduate on time | 51% | 75% |
| Pell students who graduate | 63% | 86% |
| First-gen students who finish | 65% | 72% |
| Low-income students who finish | 59% | 66% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $57,231/yr | $69,868/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 27% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 13% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 12% | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Social Sciences 9% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 8% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 27% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 13% of degrees | Social Sciences — 9% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 10% of degrees | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Health Professions — 6% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $117,651/yr | Engineering, General — $112,855/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 18% | 26% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 9,277 | 36,902 |
| Students per professor | 20 : 1 | 18 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 945 | 13,004 |
| Average professor pay | $8,349/mo | $15,643/mo |
| Full-time professors | 81% | 86% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $83,835 | $92,428 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (large) |
| Location | La Crosse, WI | Madison, WI |
| Region | Great Lakes | Great Lakes |
| Founded | 1909 | 1848 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.7% | 10% |
| Men | 43% | 47% |
| Women | 57% | 53% |
| White students | 89% | 59% |
| Black students | 0.6% | 2.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 3.9% | 8.5% |
| Asian students | 2% | 11% |
| Two or more races | 3.1% | 4.9% |
| Other / not reported | 1.1% | 3.8% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 21% | 17% |
| Part-time students | 3.2% | 4.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.9% | 3.4% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,467/yr | $21,417/yr |
| Endowment | $46.1M | $6.1B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,220 | 8,949 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,423/yr | $7,433/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $2,922/yr | $4,350/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | Land-grant institution |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | No | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 21 | 20 |
| Student athletes | 647 | 738 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $18.6M |
| Athletics budget | $7.4M | $180.5M |
| Athletics revenue | $8.0M | $190.5M |
| Recruiting spend | $48,979 | $2.4M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.