Admit rate has ranged 79%–98% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (78%) falls outside that window. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Wisconsin Lutheran College is a small, faith-based liberal arts college on the outer edge of Milwaukee where the culture is defined by a close-knit, residential community and a practical, career-oriented academic focus. It's a place where a strong majority of applicants are admitted into a supportive environment, and where business, education, and the sciences dominate the popular majors. The vibe is less about cutthroat prestige and more about developing 'potential and purpose' through small classes and a culture that students describe as a 'family.'
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
943
In-state tuition
$36,110
Out-of-state tuition
$36,110
Housing
65% on-campus
Top Major
Business (26% of 2024 grads)
Graduation Rate
64%
Average Aid Package
$27,597
Median Earnings (10yr)
$54,664
Students Receiving Aid
76.7%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$54,664
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.4×
Median debt at graduation
$26,000
Graduation rate
64%
First-year retention
73%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
73%
Pell (lower-income) share
29%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
29%
Financial health
2.4 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$62,111
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,869
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$41,937
Communication and Media Studies$39,009
Biology, General$31,670
Psychology, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.99
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
92
Summer high
79°F
Winter low
20°F
Annual rain
38.3"
Annual snow
38.1"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
38
Scholarly works
380
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.6%
Bottom → top quintile
23%
From bottom quintile
3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Wisconsin Lutheran College?
Wisconsin Lutheran College's acceptance rate is approximately 78% (Milwaukee, WI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Wisconsin Lutheran College?
Admitted students at Wisconsin Lutheran College typically score 970–1230 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Wisconsin Lutheran College cost?
At Wisconsin Lutheran College, the average net price (after aid) is about $23,245 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Wisconsin Lutheran College?
Wisconsin Lutheran College enrolls approximately 943 undergraduate students.
Where is Wisconsin Lutheran College located?
Wisconsin Lutheran College is located in Milwaukee, WI.
Admissions
Wisconsin Lutheran College operates with an accessible admissions process, welcoming a broad majority of its applicants. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the college enrolled a record-setting 1,002 traditional undergraduate students, indicating a growing and stable institution. The admissions process is , allowing students to choose whether or not to submit ACT or SAT scores as part of their application. For those who do submit, the middle 50% SAT range is 970–1230, and the middle 50% ACT range is 23–29. The college does not publish data on Early Decision or the share of its class filled via Early Decision, and sources do not indicate whether demonstrated interest is a considered factor in admissions decisions.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$30,984
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics at WLC are characterized by small class sizes and a strong emphasis on practical, career-oriented preparation. The curriculum is anchored in the liberal arts but leans heavily into professional fields. For the 2024 graduating class, the most popular majors were:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (26%)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences (16%)
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology (not specified percentage)
The education program is a notable strength, with professors emphasizing preparation for the 'professional expectations of a fast-paced, diverse, and contemporary education setting.' For students who are undecided, the college offers a CliftonStrengths program designed to help students develop their natural talents into strengths. The college's location on the 'very outer edge of Milwaukee' is noted for providing 'good connections to internships.'
Life at WLC is intensely residential and community-focused, described by the college itself as a 'culture of friendships, community, and family.' A significant majority of students—65%—live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, creating a tight-knit campus environment. The remaining 35% live off-campus. The college promotes an experience that extends 'more than the classroom,' integrating faith and purpose into everyday life. Student and alumni testimonials consistently highlight the supportive and familial atmosphere of residence life, which is a central pillar of the WLC experience. This fosters the 'close-knit, welcoming community' that defines the campus culture.
WLC graduates enter the workforce with solid, if not stratospheric, early-career earnings. The college's 2026 spring commencement saw diplomas awarded to more than 180 graduates from 16 states and three foreign countries, representing 37 different academic programs. One year after graduation, reported average earnings are $47,697. That figure grows to $59,482 five years after graduation. Other sources report varying average earnings figures over longer timeframes, such as $43,000 ten years after entry. The college's outcomes reflect its focus on direct career pathways in business, education, and health.
WLC is proactive in offering financial assistance to make attendance feasible, with 76.7% of students receiving financial aid. The average annual financial aid package is reported to be $27,597. The college offers a range of merit-based scholarships for qualifying first-time, full-time freshmen, with awards for the 2026-2027 academic year ranging from $13,000 to $21,000 per year. is also available, including federal Pell Grants, which range from $740 to $7,395 per year based on expected family contribution. The college provides financial assistance 'intended to supplement personal and family resources' and offers various loan options, though it does not advertise a 'no-loan' policy for low-income students. The average annual federal loan amount for students is $5,786.
Wisconsin Lutheran College stands out for its singular combination of confessional Lutheran identity, intensely communal residential life, and a pragmatic academic approach that connects directly to the Milwaukee job market. It’s not a college for the faint of faith or for those seeking a large, anonymous university experience; it’s for students who thrive in a 'culture of friendships, community, and family' where professors know your name and your strengths. The record enrollment suggests a institution that is finding its niche by offering a clear-value proposition: a supportive, small-scale environment with a direct line to careers in teaching, business, and the sciences. Its location provides real-world connections without the overwhelming scale of an urban campus, making it a distinctive option for students seeking a purpose-driven, close-knit college experience focused on tangible outcomes.
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