Augustana University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It enrolls 1,965 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes79
Value41
Affordability23
Selectivity62
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.8%, Augustana University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.8%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1150 – 1370
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Augustana University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
7.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Augustana University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,894 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,894
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
52%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$40,160
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,326
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,652
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,690
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$9,926
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,159
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$18,746
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,895
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,937
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,787
Over $110,000
$27,327
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,38410%percentile
$10,64825%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$32,26790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,500
↓ $2,500
No Pell $20,500
↓ $4,500
Dependent students $21,500
↓ $3,500
Independent students $16,624
↓ $8,376
Female students $21,500
↓ $3,500
Male students $20,500
↓ $4,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at Augustana University graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Augustana University earn a median of $59,217 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$59,217
Earning > $25K
87%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$48,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,200, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
6.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Augustana University is home to 1,965 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,965
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
14%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 73.0%1,434
International 11.1%218
Black 5.1%100
Hispanic 4.7%93
Other 4.0%79
Asian 2.0%40
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Augustana University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CitySioux Falls, South Dakota
Housing
Strongly residential1,376 beds for 1,965 students
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Augustana University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
53 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Augustana University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$234M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,243
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
162 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
30
19%
$82,521
Associate Professors
56
35%
$69,290
Assistant Professors
69
43%
$61,024
Instructors
7
4%
$46,681
Pros & Cons of Augustana University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Augustana University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Augustana University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Augustana University.
Is Augustana University hard to get into?
Admissions at Augustana University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Augustana University?
Augustana University has an acceptance rate of 67.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Augustana University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Augustana University scored between 1150 and 1370 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Augustana University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Augustana University scored between 21 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Augustana University cost?
The average net price after aid at Augustana University is $23,894 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Augustana University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $59,217 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,894 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Augustana University known for?
Augustana University is best known for its programs in Education, General, Nursing, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Augustana University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Augustana University are $59,217, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Augustana University accredited?
Yes. Augustana University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Augustana University?
Augustana University enrolls 1,965 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Augustana University?
Augustana University graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Augustana University a public or private college?
Augustana University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Augustana University located?
Augustana University is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
What programs does Augustana University offer?
Augustana University offers 53 distinct programs. The most popular include Education, General, Nursing, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Augustana University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Augustana University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Dakota
Other colleges in South Dakota share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business & Management, Other
Nursing
Business Administration
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