Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
79.1% Acceptance Rate
Wisconsin Lutheran College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
79.1%Acceptance Rate
3.54Avg GPA
1214Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$47,026Annual Cost
$54,664Grad Salary
25.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
79.1%
Avg GPA
3.54
Avg SAT
1214
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1060–1300
ACT Middle 50%
22–28
Need-Based Aid
25.4% receive Pell
Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private, Christian liberal arts institution known for its commitment to academic excellence, values-based education, and character development. Offering a variety of undergraduate degree programs, the university provides a supportive and engaged campus community that encourages both intellectual and spiritual growth. Its focus on preparing students for leadership in their professional and community lives makes it a meaningful and high-value path for those seeking a values-centered education.
Wisconsin Lutheran College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Wisconsin Lutheran College is inclusive by design: 79.1% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 79.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.54 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.34 – 3.53
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.09
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Wisconsin Lutheran College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Wisconsin Lutheran College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
WLC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
WLC GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at WLC is 3.54. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.24 and 3.54? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.74–3.94.WLC GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.54 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.34 – 3.53
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.14 – 3.33
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.13
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- First-time freshman applications are accepted any time after completing six semesters of high school coursework (typically after junior year) - an unusually early application window compared to most colleges.
- Students admitted after May 1 of their senior year are considered for merit-based scholarships only on a space-available and funds-available basis.
- Test-optional undergraduate admission policy; denied applicants may formally request reconsideration through the Office of Admissions.
- Admissions evaluation explicitly weighs contribution to "the life of the school, church, or community," reflecting WLC's Christ-centered mission tied to its WELS affiliation.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at WLC
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Wisconsin Lutheran College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at WLC — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into WLC Without SAT or ACT?
WLC considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Wisconsin Lutheran College Average SAT Score: 1214
Admitted students at Wisconsin Lutheran College average a 1214 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1214 — Slightly Competitive
A 1214 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1300 SAT or 28 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Wisconsin Lutheran College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1060? A retake is worth it at WLC — two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 580 | 520 | 640 |
| SAT Reading | 600 | 540 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1214 | 1060 | 1300 |
A score under 1060 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1300+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) with a 1300 SAT?
At 1300, your SAT is squarely in WLC's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file — GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) ACT Requirements
WLC's admitted students average an ACT of 25.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 25 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 25 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 24 | 21 | 27 |
| ACT English | 25 | 21 | 28 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 22 | 28 |
Can I get into Wisconsin Lutheran College with a 28 ACT?
At 28, you're in the top quarter of WLC's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections — English, Math, Reading, Science — are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, WLC weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily — the ACT opens the door, the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for WLC
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
WLC takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Apply as early as after six semesters of high school
WLC explicitly welcomes first-time freshman applications any time after completing six semesters of coursework (typically after junior year), well before senior year even starts. An ambitious junior should consider applying early to lock in rolling admission consideration and maximize scholarship timing.
Submit before May 1 of senior year to protect merit scholarship eligibility
Students admitted after May 1 of senior year are considered for merit-based awards only on a space-available and funds-available basis - a hard financial cutoff distinct from the general rolling admissions deadline.
Know that a formal appeal process exists if denied
WLC explicitly allows denied applicants to request reconsideration through the Office of Admissions - a genuine, actionable path some students don't realize is available rather than treating an initial denial as final.
Make community/church/school contribution explicit in your application
WLC's admissions committee explicitly evaluates candidates on "achievement and promise," favoring applicants who have "contributed in a significant way to the life of the school, church, or community." Make this contribution explicit and specific rather than assuming grades alone tell the full story.
Expert Insight:
WLC's affiliation with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) shapes its Christ-centered mission and campus culture explicitly. Understand this denominational framing - evaluation criteria referencing contribution to "the life of the school, church, or community" - reflects a genuine faith-integrated institutional identity, not just a historical name, before assuming it operates like a secular small liberal arts college.
WLC Profile
Full Name
Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC)
City
Milwaukee
State
Wisconsin
ZIP Code
53226-4699
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a WLC Degree Worth It?
At $47,026/year against a $54,664 median graduate salary, WLC is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $69,100, and graduates see a 2.77% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from WLC Cost?
Listed tuition runs $47,026/year at WLC; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At WLC, 25.4% receive a Pell Grant and 70.7% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming WLC on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a WLC Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, WLC graduates report a median income of $54,664, about 35% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Wisconsin Lutheran College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Wisconsin Lutheran College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Wisconsin Lutheran College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
Degree Programs at WLC
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About WLC Admissions
Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $54,664/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Wisconsin Lutheran College is moderate, around $47,026/year; many students supplement with aid.
25.4% of Wisconsin Lutheran College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Wisconsin Lutheran College's acceptance rate is 79.1%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Wisconsin Lutheran College students is 3.54, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.24 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.14 or below makes admission tougher at Wisconsin Lutheran College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Wisconsin Lutheran College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1214, and within the 1060–1300 range, keeps you competitive.
Wisconsin Lutheran College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before February 1, 2026 — that's Wisconsin Lutheran College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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