Head-to-head comparison
Viterbo University vs Lakeland University: which has better ROI?
Option A La Crosse, WI
Viterbo University
- Net price / year
- $21,260
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,660
- Payback
- 11.6 yrs
Option B Plymouth, WI
Lakeland University
- Net price / year
- $24,212
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,961
- Payback
- 12.7 yrs
Viterbo University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $85,040 in 11.6 years versus 12.7 years at Lakeland University, on median earnings of $55,660 vs $55,961 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Viterbo University | Lakeland University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,260 | $24,212 |
| Total net cost | $85,040 | $96,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,660 | $55,961 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 11.6 yrs | 12.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $60,960 | $55,172 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Viterbo University or Lakeland University?
Viterbo University, at $21,260 a year after aid versus $24,212 — a gap of $2,952 a year, or $11,808 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 Viterbo University or Lakeland University graduates earn more?
Lakeland University graduates report a median $55,961 ten years after entry, $301 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, Viterbo University or Lakeland University?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Viterbo University, against 42% at Lakeland 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.