Loras College
#6 Best Communications Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 69% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,289 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $20,716 C-
- 21% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 100% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Communications Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,498,029.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 43% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Loras College Matters
Loras College is a private college in Dubuque, IA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,083
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Engineering, Psychology
Why students choose Loras College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 100% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,716 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,289 ten years after enrolling — 43% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 80% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.74 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Loras College has a 100% acceptance rate, which means every applicant is granted admission. This accessibility makes it an attractive option for students seeking a welcoming environment. With an enrollment of 1,083, the college maintains a close-knit community where students can easily connect with peers and faculty.
Graduates from Loras College see a 10-year earnings average of $58,289. While specific mobility and economic connectedness data are not available, the college's focus on practical fields like Business, Psychology, and Engineering suggests a pathway for upward mobility. Students from lower-income backgrounds may find opportunities here, though only 23% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a mixed socioeconomic landscape.
The net price of attending Loras College is $20,716, with a median debt of $26,000 for graduates. Students who thrive here often value personalized attention and a supportive academic environment. With a graduation rate of 69%, the college aims to help students complete their degrees while preparing them for careers in various fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Loras College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Loras College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Dubuque, Iowa, Loras College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 74%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,039
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.43
- First-Gen Students
- 17%
- Applicants
- 1,860
- Admitted
- 1,671
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Loras College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Loras College is $39,824, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,716. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,479 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $39,824
- Out-of-State
- $39,824
- Avg Net Price
- $20,716
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 58%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $20,479
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,033
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,624
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,039
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Loras College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Loras College earn a median of $58,289, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,069
- 8 Years
- $54,415
- 10 Years
- $58,289
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 78%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (237)
- 64%
- 100% (237)
- 64%
- 100% (237)
- 64%
- 100% (237)
- 64%
How Loras Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Loras College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Loras College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,716/year ($82,864 total). Graduates earn $58,289 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,580,893 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,498,029 (19.1× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 69% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $82,864
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,580,893
- Net Return
- $1,498,029
- ROI Multiple
- 19.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,716
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 69%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Loras College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Loras College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.95%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.95%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 32.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $94,100
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $7,793,498
- Investment Income
- $-3,215,670
Top Programs
The fields Loras College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 22%
- Biology & Biomedical 8%
- Engineering 8%
- Psychology 7%
- Communications 7%
- Education 5%
- Criminal Justice 4%
- English & Literature 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Loras College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Loras College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Dubuque, Iowa, Loras College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Loras College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Loras College is $39,824, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,716. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,479 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Loras College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Loras College earn a median of $58,289, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Loras College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Loras College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.95%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Loras College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Loras College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Loras College.
- Westminster CollegeNew Wilmington, PA · Close peer65% grad $53,861 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Central CollegePella, IA · Close peer68% grad $54,317 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Simpson CollegeIndianola, IA · Close peer64% grad $59,274 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona, MN · Close peer67% grad $58,170 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- St. Thomas Aquinas CollegeSparkill, NY · Close peer58% grad $62,909 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
- Saint Michael's CollegeColchester, VT · Close peer71% grad $61,317 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Loras College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Loras College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note