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Luther College

Luther College is based in the town of Decorah, IA — a private campus in a small-town setting. The school reports a Evangelical Lutheran Church affiliation in its federal filings.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

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Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$16,937

family income
under $30k

$17,977

$30–48k

$22,180

$48–75k

$25,995

$75–110k

$31,047

over $110k

Average net price

$23,0972023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Luther College rose from $19,894 (2008) to $23,097 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$19,894
2009	$22,037
2010	$22,573
2011	$23,881
2012	$24,238
2013	$24,321
2014	$24,974
2015	$24,612
2016	$25,273
2017	$23,792
2018	$23,620
2019	$25,538
2020	$25,291
2021	$26,138
2022	$25,635
2023	$23,097

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$65,4612024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Luther College rose from $37,297 (2009) to $65,461 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$37,297
2010	$41,087
2011	$42,707
2012	$44,971
2013	$46,548
2014	$48,419
2015	$49,758
2016	$51,165
2017	$52,524
2018	$54,045
2019	$55,756
2020	$57,885
2021	$59,775
2022	$61,175
2023	$62,845
2024	$65,461

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$18,080
2001	$19,325
2002	$20,310
2003	$21,600
2004	$23,070
2005	$24,570
2006	$26,380
2007	$28,840
2008	$31,070
2013	$37,530
2014	$38,370
2015	$39,190
2016	$40,040
2017	$41,020
2018	$42,290
2019	$44,070
2020	$45,610
2021	$46,760
2022	$48,160
2023	$50,320

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Luther College reports published tuition of $52,120 in this record. Luther College's $52,120 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Luther College reports 1,379 undergraduates. This count does not measure class size or advising access.

71.1% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Luther College within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

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71.1%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Luther College has held near 71.1% from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	72.7%
1992 cohort	73.9%
1993 cohort	76.6%
1994 cohort	73.3%
1995 cohort	71.9%
1996 cohort	79%
1997 cohort	78.7%
1998 cohort	76.1%
1999 cohort	74.6%
2000 cohort	74.6%
2001 cohort	74.4%
2002 cohort	72.2%
2003 cohort	75.6%
2004 cohort	74.1%
2005 cohort	69.3%
2006 cohort	77.2%
2007 cohort	76%
2008 cohort	81.6%
2009 cohort	77.5%
2010 cohort	78.9%
2011 cohort	80.1%
2012 cohort	79.3%
2013 cohort	75.1%
2014 cohort	76.7%
2015 cohort	72.5%
2016 cohort	74.2%
2017 cohort	75%
2018 cohort	71.1%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

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Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$14,636	$5,202
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$15,125	$4,500
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$16,150	$4,350
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$16,975	$3,650
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$17,100	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$17,125	$5,313
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$17,125	$12,812
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$17,125	$12,124
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$17,125	$5,859
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$17,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$17,125	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$17,125	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$19,125	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$22,125	$8,665
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$25,000	$8,580
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$27,000	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$27,000	$11,000
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$27,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$27,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$27,000	$10,250
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$27,000	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$27,000	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$27,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$27,000	$6,557

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$49,541

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$52,207

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$59,850

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Luther College admitted 1,883 of 2,632 applicants in Fall 2024. The 71.5% rate describes that application pool.

71.5%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $50,320 tuition · 2023–24 1,379 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1078–14061600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Luther College reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Luther College’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 550–668 and Math was 528–738 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1078–1406 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	550	610	668
SAT Math	528	605	738
ACT Composite	22	25	29

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Luther College received 2,632 applications and admitted 1,883 (71.5%), with 375 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

71.5%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Luther College's admission rate fell from 83.5% to 71.5%. The rate alone cannot explain the change. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	83.5%
Fall 2002	78.2%
Fall 2003	76.3%
Fall 2004	71.3%
Fall 2005	75.1%
Fall 2006	81.4%
Fall 2007	82.6%
Fall 2008	80.3%
Fall 2009	69.8%
Fall 2010	71.7%
Fall 2011	72.1%
Fall 2012	70.2%
Fall 2013	72.1%
Fall 2014	71.2%
Fall 2015	66.9%
Fall 2016	67.6%
Fall 2017	65.1%
Fall 2018	62.6%
Fall 2019	62.3%
Fall 2020	64.3%
Fall 2021	76.1%
Fall 2022	75.3%
Fall 2023	73.3%
Fall 2024	71.5%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1078–1406Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	1080	1340
Fall 2003	1090	1310
Fall 2004	1105	1325
Fall 2005	1100	1340
Fall 2006	1040	1310
Fall 2007	1020	1320
Fall 2008	1003	1318
Fall 2009	1030	1310
Fall 2010	1060	1330
Fall 2011	950	1265
Fall 2012	950	1225
Fall 2013	933	1248
Fall 2014	943	1250
Fall 2015	970	1265
Fall 2016	928	1198
Fall 2017	1023	1305
Fall 2018	1050	1310
Fall 2019	1030	1265
Fall 2020	1030	1280
Fall 2021	1088	1318
Fall 2022	1075	1330
Fall 2023	1098	1318
Fall 2024	1078	1406

IPEDS Fall 2002–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

22–29Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	22	28
Fall 2002	23	28
Fall 2003	22	28
Fall 2004	22	28
Fall 2005	22	28
Fall 2006	22	27
Fall 2007	22	28
Fall 2008	23	29
Fall 2009	23	29
Fall 2010	24	29
Fall 2011	24	29
Fall 2012	23	28
Fall 2013	23	29
Fall 2014	23	28
Fall 2015	23	29
Fall 2016	23	28
Fall 2017	23	28
Fall 2018	23	29
Fall 2019	22	28
Fall 2020	23	29
Fall 2021	22	29
Fall 2022	22	29
Fall 2023	22	29
Fall 2024	22	29

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

1,379Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Luther College fell from 2,572 (Fall 2002) to 1,379 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	2,572
Fall 2003	2,498
Fall 2004	2,508
Fall 2005	2,466
Fall 2006	2,431
Fall 2007	2,405
Fall 2008	2,355
Fall 2009	2,450
Fall 2010	2,412
Fall 2011	2,411
Fall 2012	2,402
Fall 2013	2,388
Fall 2014	2,326
Fall 2015	2,286
Fall 2016	2,121
Fall 2017	2,008
Fall 2018	1,974
Fall 2019	1,918
Fall 2020	1,794
Fall 2021	1,732
Fall 2022	1,603
Fall 2023	1,454
Fall 2024	1,379

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

77%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Luther College has held near 77% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	85%
Fall 2003 cohort	85%
Fall 2004 cohort	84%
Fall 2005 cohort	83%
Fall 2006 cohort	86%
Fall 2007 cohort	85%
Fall 2008 cohort	89%
Fall 2009 cohort	87%
Fall 2010 cohort	87%
Fall 2011 cohort	88%
Fall 2012 cohort	87%
Fall 2013 cohort	85%
Fall 2014 cohort	85%
Fall 2015 cohort	84%
Fall 2016 cohort	83%
Fall 2017 cohort	84%
Fall 2018 cohort	84%
Fall 2019 cohort	77%
Fall 2020 cohort	84%
Fall 2021 cohort	81%
Fall 2022 cohort	79%
Fall 2023 cohort	77%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Luther College

Faculty pay at Luther College averages $97,380 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Luther College as a primarily residential campus of 1,379 undergraduates — and 77% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Luther College's SAT section-percentile sums are 1078–1406 — their midpoint is above the IA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Luther College's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Luther College compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Luther College71.5%

Iowa median80.1%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Luther College$52,120

Iowa median$36,684

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Luther College's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Luther College$59,850

Iowa median$55,396

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Luther College, Iowa and national reference values
Metric & basis	Luther College	Iowa median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	71.5%	80.1%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$52,120	$36,684	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$59,850	$55,396	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Luther College, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Luther College federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 17 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$77,569
Accounting and Related Services	$75,341
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$68,510
Biology, General	$63,998
Psychology, General	$56,469
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$54,821
Political Science and Government	$53,510
Communication and Media Studies	$52,905
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$52,296
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$51,913
Music	$50,947
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	$50,580
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$50,164
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$49,769
Social Work	$47,660
English Language and Literature, General	$46,116
History	$45,737

These 17 fields listed for Luther College measure earnings after completion. The $59,850 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 26 additional Luther College fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Luther College report?

Luther College's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1078–1406 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Luther College's acceptance rate?

71.5% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 1,883 admitted from 2,632 applicants.

How much does Luther College cost?

At Luther College, tuition is $52,120. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Luther College report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $59,850. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Iowa

Morningside University — 71% admitted
University of Iowa — 83.6% admitted
Mount Mercy University — 82.5% admitted
Northwestern College — 80.4% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.