Luther College vs Cornell College

Luther College and Cornell College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Luther, rooted in the Lutheran tradition, boasts a 98% acceptance rate, while Cornell, known for its rigorous academics, has a more selective 70% acceptance rate. Luther's student body is predominantly White (88%) and female (58%), while Cornell's student body is more diverse, with a larger male population (53%) and a higher percentage of students of color (28%). Both colleges excel in preparing students for postgraduate success, with Luther boasting a 94% graduation rate and Cornell achieving a 92% graduation rate. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two exceptional institutions. Explore the table to discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Cornell College logo

Cornell College

Luther College logo

Luther College

Overview

Location Mount Vernon, Iowa Decorah, Iowa
Campus setting Town: Fringe Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester 4-1-4
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 78.0% 84.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Methodism Evangelical

Admission

Acceptance rate 81.1% 76.1%
Application fees $30
SAT range 1155 - 1405 1088 - 1318
ACT range 24 - 30 22 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 28.0% 8.0%
Students submitting ACT score 58.0% 37.0%
Total number of applicants 2,836 2,495
Total number of admissions given out 2,300 1,898
Admitted students who chose to enroll 366 444
Yield rate 15.9% 23.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $62,735 $61,175
Average net price $22,667 $25,929
Tuition $47,100 $46,130
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,868

Meal plan: $5,688
Room/dormitory: $4,870

Meal plan: $5,490
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $37,745
100.0%
Average amount $34,281
Students receiving federal student loan 57.0%
Average amount $5,607
69.0%
Average amount $5,292
Students taking out private loans 16.0%
Average amount $9,357
13.0%
Average amount $13,652

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,046
Men 52.5% Women 47.5%
1,744
Men 43.4% Women 56.6%
Graduate students 9
Men 33.3% Women 66.7%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 70.5%
International students 3.0% 9.9%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 1,060 2,156
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Minnesota Iowa Wisconsin Illinois California

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Social Sciences
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 63.8% 72.5%
Dropout rate 10.9% 27.4%
Transferred out 25.4% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,721
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $40,862
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,040
  • Year 2: $24,035
  • Year 3: $38,658
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,951
  • Year 2: $23,340
  • Year 3: N/A
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,103
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,478
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,731
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,195
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $91,432
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,140
  • Year 2: $65,441
  • Year 3: $66,753
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,758
  • Year 2: $56,641
  • Year 3: $64,932
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,532
  • Year 2: $43,426
  • Year 3: $55,251
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,545
  • Year 2: $45,175
  • Year 3: $50,853
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,709
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $44,954
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,831
  • Year 2: $35,401
  • Year 3: $41,091
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,489
  • Year 2: $38,559
  • Year 3: $40,687
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,592
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $38,953
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,828
  • Year 2: $27,536
  • Year 3: $38,178

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