Dort vs. Luther- Norse

Deciding between Dordt University and Luther College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Dordt University
Luther College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Dort Sioux Center, IA
  • Luther- Norse Decorah, IA
  • Setting
  • Dort Remote Town
  • Luther- Norse Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Dort 1,952
  • Luther- Norse 1,384
  • Type
  • Dort Private 4 Year
  • Luther- Norse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Dort #407
  • Luther- Norse #235
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Dort Christian Reformed Church
  • Luther- Norse Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • Dort Non-profit
  • Luther- Norse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Dort
  • Luther- Norse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Dort $37,050
  • Luther- Norse $52,120
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Dort $37,050
  • Luther- Norse $52,120
  • Room & Board
  • Dort $11,770
  • Luther- Norse $11,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Dort $28,486
  • Luther- Norse $24,511
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Dort $23,277
  • Luther- Norse $40,917
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Dort 100%
  • Luther- Norse 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Dort 1,773
  • Luther- Norse 2,632
  • Admitted
  • Dort 1,214
  • Luther- Norse 1,883
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Dort 68.5%
  • Luther- Norse 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Dort 38%
  • Luther- Norse 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dort 1200
  • Luther- Norse 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dort 25
  • Luther- Norse 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Dort 3.65
  • Luther- Norse 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Dort A-
  • Luther- Norse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Dort Difficult
  • Luther- Norse Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Dort Low
  • Luther- Norse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Dort 21/29
  • Luther- Norse 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Dort 1070/1330
  • Luther- Norse 1078/1406
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Dort Test optional
  • Luther- Norse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Dort
  • Luther- Norse

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Dort 14:1
  • Luther- Norse 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Dort
    • Education (23%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
  • Luther- Norse
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Dort 60%
  • Luther- Norse 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Dort $43,300
  • Luther- Norse $50,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Dort 90%
  • Luther- Norse 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Dort $23,000
  • Luther- Norse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Dort $237
  • Luther- Norse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Dort 47%
  • Luther- Norse 48%
  • % Women
  • Dort 53%
  • Luther- Norse 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Dort Low
  • Luther- Norse Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Dort No
  • Luther- Norse No
  • % White
  • Dort 73%
  • Luther- Norse 84%
  • % Asian
  • Dort 1%
  • Luther- Norse 2%
  • % Black
  • Dort 2%
  • Luther- Norse 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Dort 0%
  • Luther- Norse 4%
  • % Native American
  • Dort 0%
  • Luther- Norse 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Dort 7%
  • Luther- Norse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Dort 0%
  • Luther- Norse 2%
  • % International
  • Dort 9%
  • Luther- Norse 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Dort 8%
  • Luther- Norse 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Dort 33%
  • Luther- Norse 27%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Dort 60%
  • Luther- Norse 59%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Dort Yes
  • Luther- Norse Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Dort No
  • Luther- Norse No
  • Meal Plan
  • Dort Yes
  • Luther- Norse Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Dort No
  • Luther- Norse No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Dort No
  • Luther- Norse No

Comparable Facts

Compare Dordt University in Sioux Center, IA with Luther College in Decorah, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dordt University is larger than Luther- Norse based on total student enrollment (1,952 students vs. 1,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dordt University is located in Sioux Center, IA (Remote Town setting); Luther College is in Decorah, IA (Remote Town setting).
  • Dordt University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Luther College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dordt University 14:1; Luther College 9:1.

Dort vs. Luther- Norse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dort or Luther- Norse? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Luther College than Dort ($24,511 vs. $28,486).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Luther College are 2% lower than at Dordt University ($11,530 vs. $11,770).
  • Luther College is 40.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dort (about $15,070 more per year; $52,120.00 vs. $37,050.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.7% higher at Luther- Norse than at Dordt University (about $15,070 more per year; $52,120.00 vs. $37,050.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Dordt University as at Luther College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Luther College students is 75.8% larger than aid received by Dordt University students ($40,917 vs. $23,277).

Dort vs. Luther- Norse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dort or Luther- Norse? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Luther- Norse and Dort.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Luther College (1240) is 40 points higher than at Dort (1200).
  • Incoming Dort students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Luther- Norse (25).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dordt University 1070/1330; Luther College 1078/1406.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dordt University 21/29; Luther College 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dort - Test optional; Luther- Norse - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Dort students have the same average high school GPA (3.65) as students at Luther- Norse (3.65).
  • Luther- Norse has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Dort (68.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38% at Dort vs. 19.9% at Luther- Norse.

Dort vs. Luther- Norse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dort and Luther- Norse? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Luther College's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Dordt University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Luther College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Dort graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,000 vs. $43,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dordt University graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Luther- Norse graduates ($23,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Dort graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Luther- Norse graduates ($237 vs. $279).
  • More Dort graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Luther- Norse students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.