Head-to-head comparison
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse vs Marquette University: which has better ROI?
Option A La Crosse, WI
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- Net price / year
- $16,210
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,378
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Option B Milwaukee, WI
Marquette University
- Net price / year
- $31,487
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,257
- Payback
- 4.2 yrs
Marquette University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,948 in 4.2 years versus 5.4 years at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, on median earnings of $78,257 vs $60,378 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | Marquette University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,210 | $31,487 |
| Total net cost | $64,840 | $125,948 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,378 | $78,257 |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $23,940 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | 4.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $175,520 | $471,992 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse or Marquette University?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, at $16,210 a year after aid versus $31,487 — a gap of $15,277 a year, or $61,108 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 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse or Marquette University graduates earn more?
Marquette University graduates report a median $78,257 ten years after entry, $17,879 more than the $60,378 at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. 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, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse or Marquette University?
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $23,940 at Marquette University, a difference of $1,440. 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?
83% of students finish at Marquette University, against 71% at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. 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.