Interim Chancellor Betsy Morgan | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Interim Chancellor Betsy Morgan | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Data shows that students paid $11,430 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $178 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions in the county, Viterbo University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $31,150. The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska followed with an average of $24,900 per year. Western Technical College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,853.
At the time, a total of $11.1 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the La Crosse County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $10.1 million.
Currently there are four higher education institutions in La Crosse County, including The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska, Western Technical College, and Viterbo University.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 846 | $3,957,991 | $4,678 | 1,084 | $7,470,126 | $6,891 |
| Viterbo University | 234 | $4,754,551 | $20,319 | 152 | $1,064,600 | $7,004 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska | 22 | $111,967 | $5,089 | 39 | $236,058 | $6,053 |
| Western Technical College | 454 | $2,320,464 | $5,111 | 238 | $1,308,858 | $5,499 |
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