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Colleges / Luther College

Luther College

Decorah, IA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate75%

Luther College Tuition Information

In 2022, Luther College's tuition was $49,650 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 4.5%–from $47,510 the previous year. Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students find the actual cost of college is much less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. And, student loans can make theprice of collegefeel more doable until after graduation.

Luther College meets 90% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Luther College full-time are awarded $43,251 a year in financial aid, on average.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $39,776 of debt.

Luther College: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

Luther College is a private, religious institution, so it has the same tuition for students from Iowa as it does for residents from other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a school where you are eligible for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan drastically reduce the cost of tuition, as well as loans and interest owed. Be sure to verify your state's requirements for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Iowa colleges

Luther College International Student Tuition

Tuition at Luther College is the same for each student.

International students are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may be eligible for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Luther College:

•On-campus jobs •Luther College-specific loans •Luther College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.


Luther College Room, Board, Fees, and More


In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Luther College.

House and Food Costs at Luther College

Housing and campus dining at Luther College costs $11,750 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a dining plan that enables you to eat all or some of your meals the Luther College's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls. Students who live off campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of board-only is $5,640.

Board costs may vary depending on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at Luther College?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

Most schools also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

Keep in mind, there could also be optional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges have ways so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Luther College

The cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. At Luther College, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in a city is sometimes costly, but there may be more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. The Luther College campus is in a town in Iowa.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, don’t forget to consider personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.


Total Tuition and Expenses at Luther College


Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better idea of the actual cost of attending Luther College.

How Much Does Luther College Cost?

What will the cost of attending Luther College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $49,650
Room and Board $11,750
Board Only $6,110
Other expenses $3,015

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $65,085
Off-Campus $59,445

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Luther College Financial Aid


The majority of Luther College undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2023, 1,268 of the 1,610 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Luther College meets 90% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $43,251 a year. Around 67% of Luther College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Luther College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $39,776 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $26,009
State Loans $39,396
Luther College-Specific Loans $2,283
Private Loans $34,870
Most Common Loans for Luther College Students
Federal Loans 66%
State loans 6%
Institutional Loans 34%
Private loans 20%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Luther College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Luther College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Luther College awarded 1,077 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $43.3 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $12.15 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Luther College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Luther College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Luther College was $43,251 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Luther College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $21,834
Off-Campus $16,194

What will attending Luther College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Luther College's net cost calculator on their website.

Luther College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Luther College does not have guaranteed tuition.

Luther College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Luther College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Luther College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Luther College's endowment was $195.9 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Luther College spends about $13,300 a year.


Learn More About Luther College


Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Join the conversation about about Luther College in the College Confidential forums

Luther College Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$62,070

In State

$62,070

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$49,650
$49,650
Fees
$670
$670
Housing
$11,750
$11,750
Books
Unknown
Unknown

Luther College Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

68%

Average Financial Aid Package

$42,386

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

1,610

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

75%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$50,320

Out-of-State

$50,320

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Unknown
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