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Decorah, IA · Waverly, IA
| Luther College | Wartburg College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $23,097/yr | $32,908/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,517/yr | $21,688/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,835/yr | $20,751/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $19,351/yr | $27,056/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $22,204/yr | $28,873/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $29,376/yr | $38,864/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $286/mo | $286/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,530/yr | $11,750/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,530/yr | $11,312/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,040/yr | $1,234/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,015/yr | $3,679/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $65,461/yr | $64,359/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $52,120/yr | $26,250/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $52,120/yr | $26,250/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 20% | 22% |
| Students taking federal loans | 65% | 67% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 72% | 76% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1078–1406 | 930–1200 |
| SAT average | 1218 | 1136 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 22–29 | 21–27 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 20–29 · Math 20–28 | English 19–27 · Math 21–26 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,447 | 2,543 |
| Students accepted | 1,793 | 2,528 |
| Students who enrolled | 352 | 424 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 20% | 17% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 11% | 4% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 28% | 24% |
| 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) | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| 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% | 64% |
| Freshmen who come back | 77% | 76% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $59,850/yr | $56,201/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $42,196–$82,716 | $41,047–$77,239 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 74% | 68% |
| White students graduating | 72% | 66% |
| Black students graduating | 40% | 39% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 56% | 58% |
| Asian students graduating | 83% | 33% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $49,541/yr | $48,795/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 81% | 82% |
| Graduate on time | 61% | 45% |
| Pell students who graduate | 58% | 50% |
| First-gen students who finish | 60% | 50% |
| Low-income students who finish | 51% | 34% |
| Students who transfer out | 13% | 26% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $52,207/yr | $50,597/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Visual & Performing Arts 15% · Health Professions 15% · Business, Management & Marketing 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 15% · Education 10% |
| Most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 15% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees | Education — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees | Social Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $75,533/yr | Accounting and Related Services — $61,529/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 22% | 27% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,379 | 1,452 |
| Students per professor | 9 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | No data reported | 21 |
| Average professor pay | $8,115/mo | $7,194/mo |
| Full-time professors | 88% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $92,364 | $83,926 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Decorah, IA | Waverly, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1861 | 1852 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 15% | 5.2% |
| Men | 48% | 55% |
| Women | 52% | 45% |
| White students | 71% | 81% |
| Black students | 4.4% | 4.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 6.4% | 4.3% |
| Asian students | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| Two or more races | 0% | 2.9% |
| Other / not reported | 2.4% | 1.7% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 13% | 17% |
| Part-time students | 0.8% | 3.3% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.5% | 1% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $17,234/yr | $10,199/yr |
| Endowment | $204.5M | $100.4M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,156 | 1,263 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,280/yr | $6,372/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,900/yr | $4,690/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 20 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Four-one-four plan |
| Religious affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Evangelical Lutheran Church |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 19 | 24 |
| Student athletes | 529 | 858 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $4.8M | $5.5M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.0M | $5.5M |
| Recruiting spend | $68,582 | $169,293 |
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.