UW-La Crosse: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of Wisconsin-La Crosse · La Crosse, Wisconsin · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 6,495
- Applicants
- 5,194
- Admitted80%
- 2,366
- Enrolled
- 46%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access80% admittedRanked #15 (tie) in Regional Universities Midwest; Business Programs #301 (tie), Computer Science #276 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (see the source), read on 2026-06-14.
Is UW-La Crosse a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UW-La Crosse against it in about a minute. No account needed.
UW-La Crosse is a public university in La Crosse, Wisconsin that admits about 80% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $16,210 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Biology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 71% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UW-La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. For the most recent reporting cycle, UW-La Crosse admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 80%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1270 and an ACT composite around 24. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,210 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for UW-La Crosse?
72% of enrolled students at UW-La Crosse had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.65, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare UW-La Crosse with the other schools on your list
Open UW-La Crosse in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does UW-La Crosse weight in admissions?
UW-La Crosse reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
Important
4- Application essay
- Extracurricular activities
- Volunteer work
- Level of applicant's interest
Considered
9- Standardized test scores
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Work experience
Not Considered
2- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores UW-La Crosse typically admits
The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–27. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1230 |
| 50th percentile | 1270 |
| 75th percentile | 1318 |
| % submitting SAT | 1% |
| 25th percentile | 22 |
| 50th percentile | 24 |
| 75th percentile | 27 |
| % submitting ACT | 33% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 18% |
| Top 25% of class | 49% |
| Top 50% of class | 93% |
| % submitting class rank | 62% |
How much does UW-La Crosse actually cost?
Published tuition is $10,070 for in-state students and $19,517 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $8,702 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $16,210 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $8,925 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $19,042 |
| Room and board | $8,170 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $16,210 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 60% |
| Average need-based grant | $9,240 |
| Average merit award, no financial need378 first-year students received one | $1,761 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 54% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $25,277 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $25 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UW-La Crosse
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from UW-La Crosse?
These predict outcomes at UW-La Crosse better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UW-La Crosse
The most popular undergraduate programs at UW-La Crosse, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Biology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. Across all programs, UW-La Crosse confers roughly 1,275 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Biology, General program report a median income of about $69,335 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 247 | $69,335 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 192 | $74,278 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 190 | $57,933 |
| Psychology, General | 190 | $56,291 |
| Marketing | 133 | $64,117 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 118 | $46,844 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 106 | $63,725 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 99 | $58,179 |
Is UW-La Crosse safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UW-La Crosse disclosed 12 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UW-La Crosse?
About 35% of undergraduates at UW-La Crosse live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Wisconsin parents ask about
- University of Wisconsin-Green Bay89% acceptance
- University of Wisconsin-Madison45% acceptance
- Marquette University81% acceptance
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee91% acceptance
- Milwaukee School of Engineering59% acceptance
- Ripon College80% acceptance
- Lawrence University64% acceptance
- Beloit College63% acceptance
Next steps for UW-La Crosse
Common questions parents ask about UW-La Crosse
What GPA do I need for UW-La Crosse?
72% of enrolled students at UW-La Crosse had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.65, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UW-La Crosse typically admit?
The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–27.
How much does UW-La Crosse actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UW-La Crosse after grants and scholarships is $16,210 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $10,070 and $19,517 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UW-La Crosse realistic for my child?
UW-La Crosse admits 80% of applicants, so 22–27 ACT is target range and below 22 is a reach. Then check the $16,210 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UW-La Crosse?
UW-La Crosse accepts about 80% of applicants out of roughly 6,495 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is UW-La Crosse test-optional?
Yes. UW-La Crosse is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at UW-La Crosse?
About 71% of students at UW-La Crosse graduate within six years, and 53% finish in four years. 86% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UW-La Crosse look for in applicants?
UW-La Crosse rates course rigor, class rank and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UW-La Crosse a public or private school, and where is it located?
UW-La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
What are the most popular majors at UW-La Crosse?
The largest undergraduate majors at UW-La Crosse by annual graduates are Biology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. The school awards about 1,275 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UW-La Crosse safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UW-La Crosse reported 12 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UW-La Crosse?
At UW-La Crosse, 35% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers