Viterbo University

We believe learning is a life-long process

Viterbo University offers more than 40 traditional and online academic programs that prepare students for outstanding careers. Whether at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level, classes are taught by faculty members dedicated to the success of their students. Most programs feature internships and opportunities for community service and field research that enhance the classroom experience.

Personal attention
With an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and an average class size of 18, Viterbo students receive personal attention that ensures they won’t get lost in the crowd. The focus on individual student success pays off, as proven by Viterbo’s unmatched placement rate for graduates.

Committed to affordability
Our students get an average of almost $17,000 in financial aid annually, which helps bring down the cost of our already competitive tuition. Viterbo has one of the lowest tuition costs for a private university in the Midwest. We’re committed to offering an affordable education while providing our students with all the advantages of a private university experience.

Unique seminar courses and guest speakers
Founded in 1890 by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Viterbo is a Catholic, Franciscan liberal arts college. Viterbo’s unique core curriculum allows students to select seminar courses that align with their interests and are infused with Viterbo’s mission: Franciscan values and traditions, living in a diverse world, serving the common good, and the ethical life.

The award-winning Identities Project provides opportunities for the Viterbo community to explore and discuss gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, social class, ethnicity, and other facets of identity through intentionally reflective civil dialogues, lectures, documentaries with discussions, and other programs. Students enjoy amazing guest speakers and events brought to campus by the University’s D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership. Past speakers have included Holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel, best-selling author of Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch Albom, and Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza.

Community service
Service is an essential component of a Viterbo education. Students can volunteer on their own, with a group, or as part of Service Saturdays. The monthly event provides opportunities for students and employees to serve alongside various community organizations, connect with each other, and enjoy a post-service reflection meal.

Career development
Viterbo’s Career Services Department helps connect students with internships and employment. Career Services also offers events throughout the year such as speed mock interviews, etiquette dinners, career and internship fairs, and training on how to market yourself to employers. Programs in our Dahl School of Business also include paid internships for all students. All our programs feature unparalleled opportunities for the kind of hands-on learning experiences employers look for.

Student clubs and organizations
Viterbo offers dozens of student organizations, intramural sports, and many other activities. Opportunities include being a part of Student Veterans of America, indoor soccer, and the Breaking Barriers Diversity Club. Students also have the opportunity to start their own clubs. And with the Viterbo University mobile app, students can keep connected to campus events and resources with ease.

La Crosse: A vibrant community
Learn and grow in an exciting city known for beauty, culture, and year-round recreation. Viterbo is close to thriving downtown La Crosse—home to live music events, shops, restaurants, theatre, and art—with the city nestled between scenic bluffs and the Mississippi River. Our campus is about two and a half hours from Minneapolis and about three hours from Milwaukee.