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Decorah , IA
Luther College is a private liberal arts college located in Decorah, Iowa. Established in 1861, Luther College has a rich history and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The college offers over 60 majors and minors with a strong emphasis on the liberal arts education, providing students with a well-rounded education and critical thinking skills.
Luther College is known for its picturesque campus, nestled in the scenic Upper Iowa River Valley. The college maintains a close-knit community with a student-faculty ratio of 11:1, ensuring personalized attention to each student. The campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including science laboratories, a performing arts center, and a comprehensive library that houses a vast collection of resources.
Luther College is deeply committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship. It has implemented various initiatives, such as geo-thermal heating and cooling systems, and a wind turbine that supplies a substantial amount of energy to the campus. The college also offers numerous opportunities for students to engage in community service, both locally and globally, promoting a sense of social responsibility and global citizenship. With its strong academic programs, nurturing environment, and commitment to sustainability, Luther College offers students a unique and fulfilling educational experience.
Located in Decorah, IA, Luther College is a private four-year college. This school uses a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 73%. The freshman retention rate at Luther College is 79% and the six-year graduation rate is 75%.
To find out more about what Luther College has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
1,463
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$51,140
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
75%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most vital data you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Luther College.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,793 in 2024. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 11% and ACT scores 28%. 13% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 43% between 1,200 and 1,399, 40% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 5% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 19, 45 between 24-29, 33 in the range between 18-23, and 3 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2024 was 26 and the average GPA was 3.6. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance, and the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 575 and an average SAT Math score of 630.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Luther College was 79% in 2024, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 75%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Luther College in 2024 was 1,463.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 68.6% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,463, 184 of which were foreign students. The school admitted a total of 25 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 659 male and 743 female full-time students in 2024.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Luther College.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 23, while the number of Afro-American students was 52. 95 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 6 as multirace. The school also had 5 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 9 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 13 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some important data on Luther College costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
Tuition in 2024 was $51,140 for full-time domestic students. Since Luther College is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $980 in 2024.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,040.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
At Luther College, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $11,530. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school reached $5,450, according to the data from 2024. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $5,450.
Expense Category | Amount |
---|---|
Tuition | $ 51,140 |
Room and Board | $ 11,530 |
Book and Supplies | $ 1,040 |
Total Expense | $ 63,710 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support available to students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid available at Luther College.
According to the most recent data, 299 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students totaled $46,393.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 1,134 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Luther College is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,157. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $2,232,069, and state $1,222,440. The students of Luther College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $34,101,299, and external in the amount of $2,947,786.
$28,885
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
1,040 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2024. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 285 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $2,232,069 while the state aid is $34,641. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $10,431,747. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $448,169 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
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Luther College - All Start Terms
Luther College - All Start Terms
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Fall
Application Deadline: 2025-07-27
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Luther College was 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 154 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 88 men and 92 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Luther College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Luther College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at Luther College.
Its campus spans 200 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 99 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. The most popular student organization is Diversity groups, followed by Student Activities Council and recreational sports. Other popular student organizations at this school are college ministries and Alpha Phi Omega.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Luther College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Luther College, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Luther College.
All in all, campus life at Luther College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Luther College.
Career Counselling
At Luther College, there is both group career counseling for full-time students and individual career counseling for full-time students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for full-time students only. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Luther College is located in Decorah, IA.
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Luther College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Luther College is 51,140 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Luther College is 73%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Luther College is 79%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.