Luther College vs Iowa Wesleyan University
Luther College and Iowa Wesleyan University, both esteemed institutions in Iowa, offer distinct educational experiences. Luther College, a private liberal arts college, boasts a 90% acceptance rate, while Iowa Wesleyan University, a private Methodist university, has a more selective admissions process with a 65% acceptance rate. Luther College's student body is predominantly White (88%) and female (58%), while Iowa Wesleyan University's student body is more diverse, with a larger proportion of male students (53%) and a more even distribution of racial and ethnic groups. Both institutions offer a range of popular majors, including Business, Education, and Psychology, but Luther College excels in the liberal arts and sciences, while Iowa Wesleyan University is known for its strong programs in nursing and health sciences. With graduation rates of 70% and 45% respectively, Luther College and Iowa Wesleyan University offer varying levels of academic rigor and support. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these institutions and
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![]() Iowa Wesleyan University |
![]() Luther College |
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Overview |
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Location | Mount Pleasant, Iowa | Decorah, Iowa |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | 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 | 51.0% | 84.0% |
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No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | Evangelical |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 81.9% | 76.1% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 820 - 1020 | 1088 - 1318 |
ACT range | 15 - 20 | 22 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 9.0% | 8.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 22.0% | 37.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,934 | 2,495 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,222 | 1,898 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 267 | 444 |
Yield rate | 8.3% | 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) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $42,840 | $61,175 |
Average net price | $34,988 | $25,929 |
Tuition | $32,550 | $46,130 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,410
Meal plan:
$6,930
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Room/dormitory:
$4,870
Meal plan:
$5,490
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
97.0%
Average amount $12,333 |
100.0%
Average amount $34,281 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
92.0%
Average amount $4,286 |
69.0%
Average amount $5,292 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $6,430 |
13.0%
Average amount $13,652 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
758
Men 57.9% Women 42.1% |
1,744
Men 43.4% Women 56.6% |
Graduate students |
67
Men 52.2% Women 47.8% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Very Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 70.5% |
International students | 11.3% | 9.9% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 568 | 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 |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 22.5% | 72.5% |
Dropout rate | 32.5% | 27.4% |
Transferred out | 44.2% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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