Wartburg College
#8 Best Biology Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 66% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $56,201 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $32,908 F
- 92% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.1 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Biology Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $10.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,197,074.
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 38% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Wartburg College Matters
Wartburg College is a private liberal arts college in Waverly, 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
- 1,452
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 39
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Education, Social Sciences
Why students choose Wartburg 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 76% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 930–1200. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $32,908 a year after grants and scholarships — 92% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $56,201 ten years after enrolling — 38% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 89% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.79 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Wartburg College has a graduation rate of 66%, which is a solid indicator of student persistence and success. With an acceptance rate of 76%, the college welcomes a diverse range of students, making it accessible for many. This balance between inclusivity and achievement creates an environment where students can thrive.
Data from Opportunity Insights shows that while the economic mobility rate specifically for Wartburg College is not available, its graduates earn a median income of $56,201 after ten years. This figure suggests that students are likely to find stable job opportunities post-graduation, particularly in popular fields like business, education, and the sciences. The college's commitment to student outcomes is evident in its focus on preparing graduates for the workforce.
The net price of attending Wartburg College stands at $32,908, with a median debt of $27,000 upon graduation. Given these figures, students can expect a reasonable return on their investment, especially in light of the earnings potential. Students who thrive here are typically those who are dedicated to their studies and engaged in campus life, taking advantage of the strong programs in business, education, and the sciences.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Wartburg 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 Wartburg College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Waverly, Iowa, Wartburg College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,136. The graduation rate is roughly 66%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- SAT Average
- 1136
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 930–1200
- ACT Range
- 21–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,194
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.34
- First-Gen Students
- 17%
- Applicants
- 2,779
- Admitted
- 2,708
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 Wartburg College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wartburg College is $26,250, 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 $32,908. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,688 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $26,250
- Out-of-State
- $26,250
- Avg Net Price
- $32,908
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 67%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $21,688
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $20,751
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $27,056
- Family Income $110K+
- $38,864
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 Wartburg 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 Wartburg College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wartburg College earn a median of $56,201, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,795
- 8 Years
- $50,597
- 10 Years
- $56,201
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.48x
- Earning > $25K
- 79%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (299)
- 64%
- 100% (299)
- 64%
- 100% (299)
- 64%
- 100% (299)
- 64%
How Wartburg 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 Wartburg College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wartburg College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $32,908/year ($131,632 total). Graduates earn $56,201 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,328,706 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,197,074 (10.1× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 66% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $131,632
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,328,706
- Net Return
- $1,197,074
- ROI Multiple
- 10.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $32,908
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 66%
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 Wartburg College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wartburg 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 0.76%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $85,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.76%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 23.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $115,621
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,299,106
- Investment Income
- $-4,163,570
Top Programs
The fields Wartburg 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.
- Business & Marketing 22% $65,690 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 15% $36,562 early-career
- Education 10% $48,945 early-career
- Social Sciences 7%
- Engineering 6% $69,178 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Health Professions 4% $44,210 early-career
- Psychology 4% $40,390 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 Wartburg 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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wartburg College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Waverly, Iowa, Wartburg College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,136. The graduation rate is roughly 66%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wartburg College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wartburg College is $26,250, 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 $32,908. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,688 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Wartburg College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wartburg College earn a median of $56,201, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Wartburg College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wartburg 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 0.76%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $85,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Wartburg 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 Wartburg College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wartburg College.
- The Master's University and SeminarySanta Clarita, CA · Close peer66% grad $57,106 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Nazareth UniversityRochester, NY · Close peer73% grad $56,458 earn 75% 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
- Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln, NE · Close peer67% grad $56,405 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Concordia University-WisconsinMequon, WI · Close peer66% grad $56,075 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Viterbo UniversityLa Crosse, WI · Close peer67% grad $55,660 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wartburg 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 Wartburg College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note