Head-to-head comparison
Lawrence University vs Viterbo University: which has better ROI?
Option A Appleton, WI
Lawrence University
- Net price / year
- $23,401
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,789
- Payback
- 12.6 yrs
Option B La Crosse, WI
Viterbo University
- Net price / year
- $21,260
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,660
- Payback
- 11.6 yrs
Viterbo University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $85,040 in 11.6 years versus 12.6 years at Lawrence University, on median earnings of $55,660 vs $55,789 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lawrence University | Viterbo University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,401 | $21,260 |
| Total net cost | $93,604 | $85,040 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,789 | $55,660 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 12.6 yrs | 11.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $54,976 | $60,960 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lawrence University or Viterbo University?
Viterbo University, at $21,260 a year after aid versus $23,401 — a gap of $2,141 a year, or $8,564 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Lawrence University or Viterbo University graduates earn more?
Lawrence University graduates report a median $55,789 ten years after entry, $129 more than the $55,660 at Viterbo University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Lawrence University or Viterbo University?
Viterbo University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Lawrence University, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Lawrence University, against 68% at Viterbo University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.