Frank Eugene Nichols House · Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is 5.3 miles from Onalaska
No college sits inside Onalaska’s boundary, but the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s campus in La Crosse, with 9,769 students on campus, is 5.3 miles from the center of town, and Western Technical College is 5.6 miles away in La Crosse. About 4% of Onalaska’s residents are enrolled in college, below Wisconsin (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Onalaska. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Onalaska
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Onalaska
One private college within 6.3 miles, one public college within 5.3 miles, and Western Technical College 5.6 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $75–110k, where Onalaska’s median household income ($85,867) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Onalaska: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
Questions about college near Onalaska
Is Onalaska a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Onalaska residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Wisconsin (6). The nearest campus, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, is 5.3 miles away in La Crosse.
What colleges are near Onalaska?
Within 15 miles: the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (5.3 miles, 9,769 students on campus), Western Technical College (5.6 miles, 2,814) and Viterbo University (6.3 miles, 1,781).
What is the closest community college to Onalaska, and what does it cost?
Western Technical College in La Crosse, 5.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,820 a year for Wisconsin residents; the federal net price, $11,008, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse cost if we live in Wisconsin?
Tuition and fees are $10,070 a year in-state and $19,517 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,224 (under $30,000 income) to $18,991 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Onalaska. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →