Head-to-head comparison
Wisconsin Lutheran College vs Ripon College: which has better ROI?
Option A Milwaukee, WI
Wisconsin Lutheran College
- Net price / year
- $23,245
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,664
- Payback
- 14.7 yrs
Option B Ripon, WI
Ripon College
- Net price / year
- $20,216
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,902
- Payback
- 12.4 yrs
Ripon College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $80,864 in 12.4 years versus 14.7 years at Wisconsin Lutheran College, on median earnings of $54,902 vs $54,664 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wisconsin Lutheran College | Ripon College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,245 | $20,216 |
| Total net cost | $92,980 | $80,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,664 | $54,902 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 14.7 yrs | 12.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $33,100 | $49,976 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wisconsin Lutheran College or Ripon College?
Ripon College, at $20,216 a year after aid versus $23,245 — a gap of $3,029 a year, or $12,116 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 Wisconsin Lutheran College or Ripon College graduates earn more?
Ripon College graduates report a median $54,902 ten years after entry, $238 more than the $54,664 at Wisconsin Lutheran College. 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, Wisconsin Lutheran College or Ripon College?
Wisconsin Lutheran College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Ripon College, 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?
64% of students finish at Wisconsin Lutheran College, against 63% at Ripon College. 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.