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You are here: Home / Schools / Luther College

Luther College

Decorah, IA
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Luther College

Photo: Luther College. Retrieved from: www.luther.edu

Students that attend Luther College can take advantage of the small town community setting of the Decorah campus. Holding a strong affiliation with the Lutheran Church, the College offers students a dedicated academic and social environment that enables them to tools and resources to develop vital skills needed to reach their goals. Providing a strong support community is vital to this success, maintaining a strong environment for students to obtain their independence.

The Luther College campus offers a wide variety of activities and social groups that meet around campus, offering students an eclectic range of opportunity including solid friendships, leadership skills and professional advancement. Luther students often take advantage of internship opportunities offered at the school, which offer many students full-time salaried positions right after graduation.

School History

Although the idea for the college as established in 1857, it was officially founded by a small group of Norwegian immigrants in 1861, the College was established to provide an academic education that incorporates the importance of social advancement, leadership and faith into the daily lives of students. What is now known as the central campus at Luther was in fact, the original campus grounds, where in the beginning days of the College, was home to just two buildings that hosted all classes and activities. This 200-acre land was developed over the years to include all residence halls and eight academic buildings.

Luther College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Since Rev. Laur Larsen took professorship in 1859, the College began offering students a unique structure that focused on traditions. It was this fellowship that began the very first tradition at the school, now known as Founders Day to honor the Reverend. Throughout the history of the College, faculty, students and supporters have continuously joined together to guide the college into stable times. Overcoming the aftermath of war and the Great Depression, Luther College was able to establish the strong, close-knit community that has lasted throughout generations.

Campus Life

Luther College offers students a well rounded and active campus life to learn, grow and develop as independent leaders of the future. Helping students to showcase their talents with a variety of performing arts shows and festivals right on campus grounds has enabled the College to become nationally recognized for student involvement. As the school is based on service and social activism, there are plenty of activates that involve both school and community responsibilities and action plans. The morale of campus life remains upbeat and close-knit at all times since all of the students live on campus. This establishes an independent atmosphere for the students to build and grow while working together to create activities such as fundraisers, performances and festivals.

Luther College students traditionally live on campus together, adding depth to the community-like setting found throughout campus. All students have the choice of housing in one of over eight residence halls, or student apartments that are located on campus. The campus bears all of the essential amenities such as laundry facilities that are located in each housing complex, along with members of the Residence Staff who live on campus to assist students. In fact, these staff members are actually trained students, making it easier for students to find assistance and guidance from their peers. All students are also entitled to take advantage of the dinning services offered on campus, providing three daily meals and plenty of snacks throughout the day.

Students will find that the atmosphere of campus life at Luther offers students a solid foundation of community and overall well-being. The majority of students reside on campus in one of the apartment complexes and residence halls. Students that attend the Theology reside in the special interest housing facilities located on campus. Although the majority of students live on campus, many students also prefer to dorm in one of the off-campus University owned apartments and residence buildings as well.

Financial Aid

Luther College is dedicated to assisting students with financial aid options to help reduce the stress of paying tuition. Upon admission, all students are considered for various merit-based aid, as well as traditional FAFSA loans, which can award partial or full tuition coverage. In addition to traditional scholarships and loan based financial aid, Luther College also offers various work-study programs that can alleviate tuition costs for students.

The Office of Financial Aid at Luther College is available to assist students with loan qualifications and financial aid documents. Staff members are available to consult and support students, answering any questions they may have regarding tuition and financial aid. Luther College is dedicated to providing a solid resource for students to make the college experience both educationally and financially nourishing.

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  • Overview
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Overview

Despite college rankings and countless beautiful college websites, most students and families know very little about the actual student experience at particular schools. College websites, campus tours and conversations with high school guidance counselors provide very limited information.

The Voice of the Student Survey compares the responses of over 7,500 liberal arts college undergraduates on more than 40 questions about college life. As a result, we learned what “real life” looks like at individual schools.

Some of the best (and worst) performers in our research are surprising. Some are among the U.S. News & World Report’s top ranked liberal arts colleges in the country, while others are ranked much lower but provide a successful student experience.

Our Liberal Arts Insider members know exactly how these colleges compare.

We surveyed thousands of liberal arts students to help you get the real scoop about the student experience… the good, the bad and the ugly.

Campus Community Coach & Safety Sherpa

How safe, accepted, and comfortable students feel on their college campus is one of the largest influencing factors as to how satisfied they feel with their college experience. Having a tight-knit college community is the cornerstone of a successful college experience, as proven by our Voice of the Students survey.

We can compare what the college brochures advertise to what students are actually experiencing; sometimes the admissions representatives have no idea how students on their campus really feel. This “Community” section is a way to find out exactly what students think about their campus, in their own words. Here, we have data about student satisfaction, housing, social cliques, and student’s sense of safety.

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Academics Advisor

Without a doubt, academics are a major focus, if not the top priority, for many college students. Schools will often advertise their classrooms as collaborative, but we’ve found that students sometimes describe the academic environment as highly competitive. Are students helping each other with academic work or trying to get ahead? Do students spend every waking moment with their nose in a book?

We asked students both qualitative and quantitative questions to find out how the academics at this school challenge them, and contribute to their college experience. Find out directly from the students how they feel about academics, challenging or otherwise, at their school.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
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Social Life Navigator

In addition to academics, social life is integral to the campus experience, and it’s dictated by a few different elements. Do students feel discriminated against based on their identities? Where do students spend most of their time socializing? Do drugs and alcohol dominate the social scene? This is the kind of information that schools will NOT advertise.

So, to find truthful answers these to questions, we asked students for their perspectives. We looked into social aspects such as extracurricular involvement, opportunities in the local community, and alcohol/drug culture on this campus.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
Learn More

Fast Facts

Location:Decorah, IA
Year Founded:1861
Number of Students:2001 or more
Avg Net Price:$ 25,000
Retention Rate (%):85
Reported Test Type:SAT
Test Scores (75% percentile):1320
Test Scores (25% percentile):1040
Freshman in Top 10% of HS Class (%):23
Admit Rate (%):67
School Selectivity:Moderately Selective
4 Year Graduation Rate (%):69

Note: Facts compiled from school website as well as other data sources including: US Department of Education, IPEDS, College Board and NCES.

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