Head-to-head comparison
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point vs Wisconsin Lutheran College: which has better ROI?
Option A Stevens Point, WI
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
- Net price / year
- $14,559
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,021
- Payback
- 15.9 yrs
Option B Milwaukee, WI
Wisconsin Lutheran College
- Net price / year
- $23,245
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,664
- Payback
- 14.7 yrs
Wisconsin Lutheran College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $92,980 in 14.7 years versus 15.9 years at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, on median earnings of $54,664 vs $52,021 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | Wisconsin Lutheran College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,559 | $23,245 |
| Total net cost | $58,236 | $92,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,021 | $54,664 |
| Median debt | $21,503 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 15.9 yrs | 14.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $14,984 | $33,100 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point or Wisconsin Lutheran College?
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, at $14,559 a year after aid versus $23,245 — a gap of $8,686 a year, or $34,744 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-Stevens Point or Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates earn more?
Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates report a median $54,664 ten years after entry, $2,643 more than the $52,021 at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 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-Stevens Point or Wisconsin Lutheran College?
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: its completers carry a median $21,503 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Wisconsin Lutheran College, a difference of $4,497. 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?
64% of students finish at Wisconsin Lutheran College, against 51% at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 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.