• Search by:

Luther College

700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101

Website: Luther College

Photos:

The Luther bell, which stands in front of the Dahl Centennial Union
The Luther bell, which stands in front of the Dahl Centennial Union
[source]

Luther College School Description

In the reforming spirit of Martin Luther, Luther College affirms the liberating power of faith and learning. As people of all backgrounds, we embrace diversity and challenge one another to learn in community, to discern our callings, and to serve with distinction for the common good.

As a college of the church, Luther is rooted in an understanding of grace and freedom that emboldens us in worship, study, and service to seek truth, examine our faith, and care for all God’s people.

As a liberal arts college, Luther is committed to a way of learning that moves us beyond immediate interests and present knowledge into a larger world-an education that disciplines minds and develops whole persons equipped to understand and confront a changing society.

As a residential college, Luther is a place of intersection. Founded where river, woodland, and prairie meet, we practice joyful stewardship of the resources that surround us, and we strive to be a community where students, faculty, and staff are enlivened and transformed by encounters with one another, by the exchange of ideas, and by the life of faith and learning.

Collapse

Luther College

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Luther College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Decorah, Iowa, USA. Founded as a male seminary in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants, Luther admitted women beginning in 1936. A Phi Beta Kappa institution, Luther currently enrolls more than 2,500 undergraduate students working toward the Bachelor of Arts degree.

History

The path to founding Luther College began on October 10, 1857, when the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church decided to create a college to supply ministers for Norwegian congregations in the Upper Midwest. Until the college was completed, students would study at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. On October 14, 1859, the Rev. Peter Laurentius Larsen was appointed professor to the Norwegian students at Concordia by the NELC.

Upon the closing of the seminary in April 1861, at the start of the Civil War, the NELC decided to open its own college that fall in a former parsonage at Halfway Creek, Wisconsin, just north of La Crosse, Wisconsin and close to present day Holmen, Wisconsin. On September 1, 1861, classes officially began with an enrollment of 16. The following year classes moved to Decorah, Iowa, with NELC Pastor Ulrik Vilhelm Koren successfully arranging the college's relocation and permanent settlement.

It did not take long for Luther to build an exceptional music program. In 1905, Dr. Carlo A. Sperati, an 1888 graduate of Luther, became the music director of the college and developed the Luther College Concert Band, founded in 1878, on the model of the wind ensemble pioneered by John Philip Sousa. Under Sperati, the band undertook several tours of Europe, their first in 1914, earning international acclaim for their musical talent. Sperati remained on the faculty until his death in 1945.

Collapse

Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Midwest
Setting:
Small Town Setting
Type:
Private
Affiliation:
Evangelical Lutheran Church
Size:
Medium (2,000 to 5,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Norse

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
2,545
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 28,840
Students Receiving Aid:
98%
More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 25
Selectivity:
Selective
More Admissions

Luther College Degree Programs

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Learn more about Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Luther College Students & Campus Life

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 57%
Men 43%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 91%
Other 6%
Asian 2%
Hispanic 1%
African-American 0%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
Out-of-State 67%
In-State 33%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Minnesota 36%
Iowa 33%
Wisconsin 12%
Illinois 5%
Colorado 1%
Percent of Students International: 2%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 84%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf)
Basketball (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf)
Baseball (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf)
Track (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf)

Luther College Expenses (Tuition & Fees)

Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 28,840    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
 $ 3,899 18%  
State and Local Grants:
 $ 2,593 58%  
Institutional Grants:
 $ 10,667 97%  
Student Loans:
 $ 3,945 76%  
Any Aid:
   98%  

Luther College Admissions

Acceptance Rate: 83% (Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 17%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 480, Math: 540
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 670, Math: 650
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 93%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 22, Verbal: 22, Math: 22
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 28, Verbal: 29, Math: 28

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 25.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Required
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

Photos

  • The Luther bell, which stands in front of the Dahl Centennial Union
    The Luther bell, which stands in front of the Dahl Centennial Union [source]
  • Luther's current Main Building is the third to stand in the same location; fire destroyed the previous two.
    Luther's current Main Building is the third to stand in the same location; fire destroyed the previous two. [source]
  • The Koren Building, one of the oldest on campus, houses Luther's social sciences departments.
    The Koren Building, one of the oldest on campus, houses Luther's social sciences departments. [source]
Get Admissions Information on Luther College! (It only takes a minute!)
STEP 1 2

Where does the school information come from?

CLOSE

Our goal at Campus Explorer is to provide you with the most comprehensive information on colleges and universities. We scour the Web and pull from only the most reliable and accurate sources to give you extensive data on a school, its history and mission, the students, estimated school expenses, academics or degree programs and much more. It is our mission to help you make the best decision for your educational goals and future.

Our resources include:

The schools themselves (Are you a school administrator? Contact us if you would like to update your school's profile.)

And even Campus Explorer Members like you!

For even more up-to-date and accurate materials on admissions, applications and expenses, request information on Luther College now.

Sponsored Links
Get Admissions Information on Luther College! (It only takes a minute!)
STEP 1 2

Compare Luther College to your schools:

  • New Horizons Computer Learning Centers - Cherry Hill
  • Moler Hollywood Beauty Academy
  • Brown Mackie College - Tucson
  • Clear Creek Baptist Bible College
  • Ranger College

Related College Searches

More Info on Similar School Types

More Info on Related College Degrees

More Colleges Near Decorah, IA

Online Schools & Distance Learning Programs

College Resources

Advertisement