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Decorah, IA · Davenport, IA
| Luther College | Saint Ambrose University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $23,097/yr | $24,691/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,517/yr | $22,037/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $27,000 | $25,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,835/yr | $21,729/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $19,351/yr | $22,408/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $22,204/yr | $24,776/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $29,376/yr | $27,807/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $286/mo | $265/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,530/yr | $13,378/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,530/yr | $9,782/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,040/yr | $1,320/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,015/yr | $3,600/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $65,461/yr | $51,141/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $52,120/yr | $36,658/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $52,120/yr | $36,658/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 20% | 32% |
| Students taking federal loans | 65% | 64% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 72% | 77% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1078–1406 | 930–1170 |
| SAT average | 1218 | 1093 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 22–29 | 20–25 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 20–29 · Math 20–28 | English 19–24 · Math 17–25 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,447 | 3,456 |
| Students accepted | 1,793 | 2,534 |
| Students who enrolled | 352 | 422 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 20% | 17% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 11% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 28% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 71% | 61% |
| Freshmen who come back | 77% | 76% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $59,850/yr | $59,531/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $42,196–$82,716 | $40,633–$80,745 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 74% | 66% |
| White students graduating | 72% | 68% |
| Black students graduating | 40% | 35% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 56% | 52% |
| Asian students graduating | 83% | 50% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $49,541/yr | $51,616/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 81% | 78% |
| Graduate on time | 61% | 55% |
| Pell students who graduate | 58% | 42% |
| First-gen students who finish | 60% | 56% |
| Low-income students who finish | 51% | 48% |
| Students who transfer out | 13% | 30% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $52,207/yr | $57,759/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Visual & Performing Arts 15% · Health Professions 15% · Business, Management & Marketing 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Health Professions 15% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 12% |
| Most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 15% of degrees | Health Professions — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees | Education — 10% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $75,533/yr | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $117,805/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 22% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,379 | 1,916 |
| Students per professor | 9 : 1 | 11 : 1 |
| Graduate students | No data reported | 559 |
| Average professor pay | $8,115/mo | $7,663/mo |
| Full-time professors | 88% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $92,364 | $69,544 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Decorah, IA | Davenport, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1861 | 1882 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 15% | 3.2% |
| Men | 48% | 47% |
| Women | 52% | 53% |
| White students | 71% | 66% |
| Black students | 4.4% | 8.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.4% | 11% |
| Asian students | 1.2% | 1.8% |
| Two or more races | 0% | 5% |
| Other / not reported | 2.4% | 4.9% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 13% | 28% |
| Part-time students | 0.8% | 5.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.5% | 11% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $17,234/yr | $11,705/yr |
| Endowment | $204.5M | $247.4M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,156 | 1,601 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,280/yr | $7,634/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,900/yr | $4,714/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Roman Catholic |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | No | No |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NAIA Division II |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 19 | 28 |
| Student athletes | 529 | 949 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $4.8M |
| Athletics budget | $4.8M | $10.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.0M | $10.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $68,582 | $156,654 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.