Luther College
Decorah, Iowa · Private · 1,379 undergraduates · luther.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
73%
of 2,450 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1078 to 1406
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$73,390Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Luther College
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
73% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$73,390
a year in 2027-28, from a $73,390 sticker price
What to do with your 1240
Send your score
About 78% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 960, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: Test-Optional Policy | Luther College · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
73%
of applicants were admitted: 1,800 of 2,450 for fall 2025.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 5% of them sent SAT scores and 19% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1078 to 1406
Reading and Writing 585 to 680
Math 598 to 705
ACT composite 20 to 29
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$73,390
a year
- Tuition$59,640
- Food and housing$13,750
Luther College published $67,850 for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$15,244
- $30,001 to $48,000$15,061
- $48,001 to $75,000$16,942
- $75,001 to $110,000$21,299
- Over $110,000$29,332
Financial aid
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Luther National Merit Scholarships
Full tuition
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
1 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $5,960Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | Art 139 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | Art 139 |
| Art History | 4 | 4 | Arth 251 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | Biology 139 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | Mathematics 150 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 4 | Mathematics 152 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | 4 | Mathematcs 150 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | Chemistry 139 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | Chinese 201 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | Pol Science 239 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | Computer Science 139 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 4 | Computer Science 139 |
| Drawing | 4 | 4 | Art 108 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 | English 139 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 | English 139 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | Science 139 |
| European History | 4 | 4 | History 139 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | French 201 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | German 201 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 4 | History 126 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | General Studies 139 |
| Latin | 4 | 4 | Latin 202 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 4 | Economics 139 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 4 | Economics 139 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 | Music 139 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | Physics 151 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | Physics 152 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | Science 139 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | Science 139 |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | Psychology130 |
| Research | 4 | 4 | General Studies139 |
| Seminar | 4 | 4 | General Studies 139 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | Spanish 201 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 4 | Spanish 239 |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | Mathematics 115 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | Political Science 130 |
| United States History | 4 | 4 | History 139 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 4 | History 139 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
65%
Come back for a second year
77%
Typical earnings
$61,821
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Luther College$58,621
- All colleges$55,386
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 19 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Luther College. The Luther College logo is a trademark of the college.