University of Wisconsin-La Crosse — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse charges a net price of $16,210/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $64,840. Graduates earn a median $60,378 ten years after entry, $12,018/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.4 years — a 20-year net return of $175,520, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's 5.4-year payback ranks #472 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 63% of them, and #6 of 53 in Wisconsin.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $16,210/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $64,840 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $60,378 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $12,018/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $175,520 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's own numbers. Net price $16,210 × 4 years = $64,840 total. Median earnings $60,378 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $12,018 a year of premium. $64,840 ÷ $12,018 = 5.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $175,520. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students graduate with?
A median $22,500 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $60,378 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students graduate?
71% finish their degree. Spread the $64,840 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $91,324 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Wisconsin-La Crosse expensive compared with other Wisconsin colleges?
Its $16,210 net price runs $1,017 above the $15,193 median across the 53 Wisconsin colleges we profile, or $4,068 more across the full degree.