Wartburg College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Waverly, Iowa. It enrolls 1,452 students (a small, tight-knit 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.
Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes59
Value10
Affordability17
Selectivity46
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 75.8%, Wartburg College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
75.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
930 – 1200
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 Wartburg College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
24.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Wartburg College 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 $32,908 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$32,908
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
67%
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
$26,250
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,750
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,312
Books & Supplies
$1,234
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,679
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,338
Total Cost of Attendance
$64,359
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
$21,688
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,751
$48,001 – $75,000
$27,056
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,873
Over $110,000
$38,864
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,12525%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,51875%percentile
$31,00090%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 $19,000
↓ $8,000
No Pell $20,000
↓ $7,000
Female students $20,375
↓ $6,625
Male students $19,000
↓ $8,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
59% of full-time students who enrolled at Wartburg College graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
59%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Wartburg College earn a median of $56,201 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,201
Earning > $25K
88%
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
$44,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$45,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,700, about 21% 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 ↑
10.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Wartburg College is home to 1,452 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,452
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
17%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.6%1,170
International 5.2%76
Black 4.9%71
Hispanic 4.3%62
Other 3.0%44
Asian 0.5%7
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Wartburg College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantWaverly, Iowa
Housing
Strongly residential1,263 beds for 1,452 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Wartburg College offers
a varied set of programs:
35 distinct programs across
21 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 Wartburg College is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$146M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,064
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
84 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
24
29%
$75,474
Associate Professors
27
32%
$64,142
Assistant Professors
23
27%
$56,294
Lecturers
10
12%
$54,338
Pros & Cons of Wartburg College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Wartburg College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Wartburg College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wartburg College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Wartburg College.
Is Wartburg College hard to get into?
Wartburg College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 75.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Wartburg College?
Wartburg College has an acceptance rate of 75.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Wartburg College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Wartburg College scored between 930 and 1200 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 Wartburg College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Wartburg College 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 Wartburg College cost?
The average net price after aid at Wartburg College is $32,908 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Wartburg College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,201 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $32,908 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Wartburg College known for?
Wartburg College is best known for its programs in Business, Biology, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Wartburg College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Wartburg College are $56,201, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Wartburg College accredited?
Yes. Wartburg College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Wartburg College?
Wartburg College enrolls 1,452 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Wartburg College?
Wartburg College graduates 59% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Wartburg College a public or private college?
Wartburg College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Wartburg College located?
Wartburg College is located in Waverly, Iowa.
What programs does Wartburg College offer?
Wartburg College offers 35 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Biology, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Wartburg College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Wartburg College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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