Augustana College
Augustana College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Augustana College at a Glance
Augustana College is a private Lutheran liberal arts college in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The college enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Its campus is adjacent to the Mississippi River and covers 115 acres (46.5 ha) of hilly, wooded land.
1860
166 years old
$253M
$252.6 million (2025)
2,500
2,522 undergrad · 48 grad
115 acres
100
Identity
How to Apply to Augustana College
Official admissions pageTesting policy
Is Augustana College Worth It?
Augustana College offers moderate value at $22,736/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $62,971, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 76% graduation rate means roughly 24% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Augustana College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in IL
Ranked #6 of 84 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of St Francis | 81 | $13,006 | $63,926 |
| #2 | Carroll University | 67 | $15,193 | $58,009 |
| #3 | Canisius University | 58 | $17,940 | $60,681 |
| #4 | Fresno Pacific University | 57 | $13,630 | $58,896 |
| #5 | St. Joseph's University-New York | 56 | $19,035 | $63,905 |
| #6 | Augustana College | 53 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Augustana College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in IL.
Best Programs at Augustana College
The highest-earning program at Augustana College is Accounting and Related Services at $51,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at $19,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from Augustana College earns $51,600, while a Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduate earns $19,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $22,736/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $51,600 | $51,600 | $27,000 |
| Computer Science | $49,500 | $49,500 | N/A |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,300 | $44,300 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $37,400 | $37,400 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,400 | $37,400 | $25,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $36,600 | $36,600 | $24,031 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $32,500 | $32,500 | N/A |
| Biology, General | $27,400 | $27,400 | $26,958 |
| Psychology, General | $26,400 | $26,400 | $26,992 |
| Political Science and Government | $26,200 | $26,200 | $27,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $25,000 | $25,000 | N/A |
| Sociology | $24,900 | $24,900 | $27,000 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $24,200 | $24,200 | $26,979 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $19,700 | $19,700 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in IL
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Rock Island, IL
- Student Body
- 2,490 students
- Admission Rate
- 63%
- Graduation Rate
- 76%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,736
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $62,971
- Median Student Debt
- $27,000