Luther College
Luther College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Luther College at a Glance
Luther College is a private Lutheran liberal arts college in Decorah, Iowa, United States. Established as a Lutheran seminary in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants, the school today is an institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The upper campus was listed as the Luther College Campus Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.
1861
165 years old
$220M
$220.2 million (2025)
1,384
175 acres
Identity
Is Luther College Worth It?
Luther College offers moderate value at $23,097/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $59,850, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 73% graduation rate means roughly 27% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Luther College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in IA
Ranked #16 of 140 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 | Kalamazoo College | 68 | $19,072 | $65,590 |
| #3 | Albion College | 61 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| #4 | Canisius University | 58 | $17,940 | $60,681 |
| #5 | Fresno Pacific University | 57 | $13,630 | $58,896 |
| #6 | Clarkson College | 57 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| #16 | Luther College | 47 | $23,097 | $59,850 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Luther College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 8 in IA.
Best Programs at Luther College
The highest-earning program at Luther College is Computer Science at $71,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is International/Global Studies at $18,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Luther College earns $71,100, while a International/Global Studies graduate earns $18,200. 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: Computer Science graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $26,900 for International/Global Studies.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $23,097/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $71,100 | $71,100 | $27,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $63,300 | $63,300 | $27,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $49,500 | $49,500 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,400 | $41,400 | $27,000 |
| Mathematics | $39,400 | $39,400 | $23,995 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,200 | $37,200 | $27,000 |
| Music | $33,400 | $33,400 | $27,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $32,700 | $32,700 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,700 | $31,700 | $27,000 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $30,500 | $30,500 | $26,000 |
| Psychology, General | $26,700 | $26,700 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General | $22,200 | $22,200 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $20,600 | $20,600 | N/A |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $18,200 | $18,200 | $25,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $18,200 | $18,200 | $27,000 |
| International/Global Studies | $18,200 | $18,200 | $26,900 |
Similar Colleges in IA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Decorah, IA
- Student Body
- 1,379 students
- Admission Rate
- 72%
- Graduation Rate
- 73%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $23,097
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $59,850
- Median Student Debt
- $27,000