Luther College
#3 Best Computer Science Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 73% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $59,850 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $23,097 D+
- 35% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 72% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.4 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $16.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,420,991.
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 47% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.5%
- Top 45%
- Patents
- 24
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 16
- Downstream influence
Why Luther College Matters
Luther College is a private liberal arts college in Decorah, 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 Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,379
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 39
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Luther 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
Competitive — admits about 72% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1078–1406. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,097 a year after grants and scholarships — 35% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,850 ten years after enrolling — 47% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 78% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.74 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Luther College has an enrollment of 1,379 students, creating an intimate learning environment. With a graduation rate of 73%, students can expect a supportive atmosphere that encourages completion. The acceptance rate sits at 72%, making it accessible for many aspiring students.
According to Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics for Luther College are not available. However, the college’s focus on key programs such as Health Professions and Visual & Performing Arts hints at a commitment to fields that can lead to solid career outcomes. Graduates earn a median salary of $59,850 ten years after enrolling, which reflects positively on the potential return on investment.
The net price for attending Luther College is $23,097, with a median debt of $27,000. This financial landscape suggests that while costs are manageable, students should be prepared for some debt. The college is best suited for those interested in smaller class sizes and a community-oriented experience, particularly in creative and health-related fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Luther 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 Luther College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Decorah, Iowa, Luther College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,218. The graduation rate is roughly 73%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 72%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1218
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 1078–1406
- ACT Range
- 22–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 88%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,115
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.47
- First-Gen Students
- 13%
- Applicants
- 2,188
- Admitted
- 1,648
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 Luther College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Luther College is $52,120, 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 $23,097. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,517 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $52,120
- Out-of-State
- $52,120
- Avg Net Price
- $23,097
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 20%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 65%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,517
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,835
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,351
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,376
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Luther College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Luther College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Luther College earn a median of $59,850, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,541
- 8 Years
- $52,207
- 10 Years
- $59,850
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (387)
- 69%
- 100% (387)
- 69%
- 100% (387)
- 69%
- 100% (387)
- 69%
How Luther 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 Luther College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Luther College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,097/year ($92,388 total). Graduates earn $59,850 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,513,379 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,420,991 (16.4× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 73% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $92,388
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,513,379
- Net Return
- $1,420,991
- ROI Multiple
- 16.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,097
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 73%
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 Luther College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Luther 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 0.98%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $101,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.98%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 32.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $137,631
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Luther College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 24 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.51%
- Top 45% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 24
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 16
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,869,332
- Investment Income
- $-2,718,803
Top Programs
The fields Luther College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 15% $77,756 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 15% $43,036 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10% $67,300 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $27,459 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $89,730 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $61,913 early-career
- Psychology 5% $32,718 early-career
- Communications 3% $43,782 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Luther 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
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Luther College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Decorah, Iowa, Luther College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 72%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,218. The graduation rate is roughly 73%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Luther College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Luther College is $52,120, 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 $23,097. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,517 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Luther College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Luther College earn a median of $59,850, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Luther College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Luther 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 0.98%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.1% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $101,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Luther 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 Luther College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Luther College.
- Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobe, PA · Close peer70% grad $59,982 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Mary's CollegeNotre Dame, IN · Close peer73% grad $59,354 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, MD · Close peer69% grad $60,110 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Walsh UniversityNorth Canton, OH · Close peer60% grad $59,764 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Augustana UniversitySioux Falls, SD · Close peer74% grad $59,217 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lawrence UniversityAppleton, WI · Close peer77% grad $55,789 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Luther 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 Luther College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note