Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Remote town

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa. 1,379 undergraduates. Admits 72% of applicants.

65%Graduation rate10 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$23,945Average net price per year20% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$61,821Median earnings 10 years after starting5% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$27,000Median debt at graduation25% above the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($27,000) equals 44% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($61,821).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$15,244
$30,000–$48,000$15,061
$48,001–$75,000$16,942
$75,001–$110,000$21,299
Over $110,000$29,332

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $54,250.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate65%54%
Return for second year77%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$50,748$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$61,821$58,912
Median debt at graduation$27,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

40 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science9—$116,921—
Accounting and Related Services11$64,080$90,791—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing46$81,045$77,254$25,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations34$55,800$75,736$27,000
Political Science and Government12$53,871$64,070$27,000
Biology, General28$38,581$63,105$27,000
Communication and Media Studies8—$62,751—
Mathematics7—$62,185—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics5—$60,597—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities—$44,894$58,621$27,000
English Language and Literature, General10$40,019$53,604$27,000
Social Work12—$52,677$27,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness14—$50,927—
Music33$44,426$50,877$27,000
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General11—$50,526—
History6$32,134$49,191—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research15$38,341$49,119—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods14$45,791$47,182$27,000
Fine and Studio Arts3$30,922$43,646—
Research and Experimental Psychology12$33,931—$23,778
Information Science/Studies10——$27,000
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics16———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics3———
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology2———
Neurobiology and Neurosciences5———
Statistics4———
International/Globalization Studies5———
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis4———
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics3———
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other3———
Philosophy2———
Religion/Religious Studies5———
Chemistry9———
Physics6———
Anthropology6———
Economics6———
Sociology5———
Design and Applied Arts8———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft4———
Public Health5———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

72%Admission rate
1,218Average SAT of admitted students
22–29ACT middle 50%
9:1Students per faculty member
23%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Luther College cost per year?
The average net price at Luther College, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $23,945 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Luther College graduates earn?
Former Luther College students earn a median of $61,821 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Luther College?
65% of Luther College students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Luther College graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Luther College is $27,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.