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Luther College

Decorah, IA

Luther College at a glance

Luther College is a private university in Decorah, Iowa with 1,384 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 72% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published tuition is $52,120 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $23,097 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 71% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 65% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $27,000 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Nursing (RN), bachelor's ($77,569) and Business Administration, bachelor's ($68,510) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).

Tuition

$52,120

2024-25

Acceptance

72%

Fall 2024 applicants

Students

1,384

Fall 2024

Type

University

Setting

Rural

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition

$52,120

Out-of-State Tuition

$52,120

Avg On-Campus Living

$11,530

Avg Off-Campus Living

$11,530

Financial Aid & Outcomes

College Scorecard

What will it actually cost?

Sticker price: $63,650
Net price (after aid): $23,097

Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.

Net price by family income

$0 – $30k: $12,517
$30k – $48k: $12,835
$48k – $75k: $19,351
$75k – $110k: $22,204
$110k+: $29,376 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)

Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)

For families earning $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $3,876. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.

The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.

After graduation

Median earnings (10yr): $59,850
Median debt at graduation: $27,000
Est. monthly loan payment: $286

Earnings-to-debt ratio

Moderate · 2.2×

Graduates earn about 2.2× their median debt every year.

Financial access

Students on Pell Grants: 20%

Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.

Students with federal loans: 65%

Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.

Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.

How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.

FAFSA earnings check

: Not flagged

Luther College does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $58,037, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally. The Department uses the national figure for a college that mostly enrolls out-of-state students or operates in several states.

This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.

Which Iowa schools are flagged now

Student Outcomes

Graduation Rate

71%

Freshman Retention

77%

Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)

Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.

Scholarships available

Decision support · Cost & value

Quick Decision Highlights

The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.

Outcomes

Strong post-grad earnings

Median earnings 10 yrs out are above the graduate average.

This school$59.9k
National avg$48k
Source: IPEDS 2024

Strong completion rate

71% above avg

Scholarships available

Aid signal

Affordability snapshot

Tuition

$52.1k

Net price

$23.1k

Pell

20%

Median debt

$27k

Earnings (10y)

$59.9k

above avg

“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.

Admissions

Acceptance rate

72%

SAT range

1078 - 1406

ACT range

22 - 29

Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)

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Location

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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school

Institution does not report this

Decorah, IA 52101

Academics

Studying online: no students were enrolled entirely at a distance

In Fall 2023, none of Luther College's 1,463 students were enrolled entirely at a distance, though 1 (0%) took at least one distance course. That is a count of how students enrolled, not a list of what is offered online.

Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.

U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023

Fields of study

Luther College reported conferring credentials in 36 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.

Campus & Student Life

Area Safety Rating

Decision support

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Graduate earnings by program

What Luther College graduates earn, by program

Luther College's bachelor's graduates in Biology earned a median $63,998 four years after graduating, 12% above the $57,214 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $29,359; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $26,391 in federal loans at this college (about $280 a month on a 10-year plan).

19 programs at Luther College have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.

Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for Luther College (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Biology, Bachelor's$63,998$57,214, +12%$26,391$280/mo
Nursing (RN), Bachelor's$77,569$88,910, −13%$27,000$286/mo
Music, Bachelor's$50,947$42,892, +19%$27,000$286/mo
Business Administration, Bachelor's$68,510$68,257, about the same$27,000$286/mo
English, Bachelor's$46,116$48,590, −5%$27,000$286/mo
Political Science, Bachelor's$53,510$63,293, −15%$27,000$286/mo
Teacher Education (by grade level), Bachelor's$50,164$47,382, +6%$27,000$286/mo
Accounting, Bachelor's$75,341$76,194, about the same$27,000$286/mo
Computer Science, Bachelor's—$107,009$27,000$286/mo
Social Work, Bachelor's$47,660$51,790, −8%$27,000$286/mo
Natural Resources and Conservation, Bachelor's$52,296$55,012, −5%——
Communication, Bachelor's$52,905$56,359, −6%$27,000$286/mo

Compare what Biology pays at other colleges

What the job pays locally

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: everyone working in the job, every experience level, not only recent graduates.

Show 7 more programs
Median earnings four years after graduating and median federal debt, by program and credential, for Luther College (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
ProgramMedian earnings, 4 yrs afterNational medianFederal debt borrowed at this college (median)Payment
Health Sciences, Bachelor's$50,580$61,296, −17%——
History, Bachelor's$45,737$50,680, −10%——
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Bachelor's$49,769$55,459, −10%——
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Bachelor's—$55,000$27,000$286/mo
Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Bachelor's$51,913$54,562, −5%$27,000$286/mo
Liberal Arts and General Studies, Bachelor's$54,821$53,072, +3%$27,000$286/mo
Psychology, Bachelor's$56,469$50,706, +11%$25,823$274/mo

Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show. Nursing graduates vs RN pay by state: the early-career benchmark.

Frequently asked questions

About Luther College

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is Luther College located?
Luther College is located in Decorah, IA, in the United States.
What type of institution is Luther College?
Luther College is a private university based in IA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
What is the acceptance rate at Luther College?
The most recently reported acceptance rate at Luther College is approximately 72% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
What is the tuition at Luther College?
Luther College's published in-state tuition is approximately $52,120 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
How many students attend Luther College?
Luther College reports total enrollment of approximately 1,384 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
How much does Luther College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Luther College is approximately $23,097 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $12,517 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $29,376. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
What is the graduation rate at Luther College?
Luther College reports a graduation rate of approximately 71% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
How much student debt do graduates of Luther College have?
Students who borrowed at Luther College left with a median of approximately $27,000 in federal loans, and about 65% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
How much do graduates of Luther College earn?
Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $59,850 for students who received federal financial aid at Luther College. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
How should I verify final details about Luther College?
CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Luther College.
How much do Biology graduates from Luther College earn?
Luther College's bachelor's graduates in Biology earned a median $63,998 four years after graduating, 12% above the $57,214 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $29,359; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $26,391 in federal loans at this college (about $280 a month on a 10-year plan).
How much do Nursing (RN) graduates from Luther College earn?
Luther College's bachelor's graduates in Nursing (RN) earned a median $77,569 four years after graduating, 13% below the $88,910 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $75,533; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $27,000 in federal loans at this college (about $286 a month on a 10-year plan). For context, registered nurses in Iowa are paid a median $78,630 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.
Which programs at Luther College have the highest graduate earnings?
Among the 7 programs at Luther College with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Nursing (RN), bachelor's ($77,569); Business Administration, bachelor's ($68,510); and Biology, bachelor's ($63,998) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
Does Luther College get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Luther College's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $58,037, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.

Fields this college awarded credentials in

The 14 largest of 36 fields Luther College reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.

Fields Luther College reported conferring credentials in during 2024-25, with the number awarded and the highest credential level.
FieldAwardedLevel
Music33Bachelor's
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing33Bachelor's
Business Administration, Management and Operations29Bachelor's
Biology, General24Bachelor's
Research and Experimental Psychology21Bachelor's
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General20Bachelor's
Design and Applied Arts18Bachelor's
Information Science/Studies15Bachelor's
Natural Resources Conservation and Research15Bachelor's
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics14Bachelor's
Chemistry13Bachelor's
Computer Science13Bachelor's
Economics13Bachelor's
Political Science and Government13Bachelor's

Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.

Data sources & methodology

Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.

Facts on this profile of Luther College are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.

Sources used across this page

Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.

Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.

Suggested citation

CampusPin. (2024). Luther College, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/luther-college

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