Luther- Norse vs. Bennington

Comparable Facts

Compare Luther College in Decorah, IA with Bennington College in Bennington, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Luther College is larger than Bennington based on total student enrollment (1,384 students vs. 927 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Luther College is located in Decorah, IA (Remote Town setting); Bennington College is in Bennington, VT (Rural Fringe setting).
• Luther College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bennington College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Luther College 9:1; Bennington College 9:1.

Luther- Norse vs. Bennington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Luther- Norse or Bennington? 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 Bennington ($24,511 vs. $34,220).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Luther College are 39.7% lower than at Bennington College ($11,530 vs. $19,108).
• Bennington College is 27.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Luther- Norse (about $14,142 more per year; $66,262.00 vs. $52,120.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.1% higher at Bennington than at Luther College (about $14,142 more per year; $66,262.00 vs. $52,120.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Luther College as at Bennington College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bennington College students is 29.7% larger than aid received by Luther College students ($53,064 vs. $40,917).

Luther- Norse vs. Bennington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Luther- Norse or Bennington? 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 Bennington and Luther- Norse.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bennington College (1350) is 110 points higher than at Luther- Norse (1240).
• Incoming Bennington students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 25 at Luther- Norse).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Luther College 1078/1406; Bennington College 1291/1403.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Luther College 22/29; Bennington College 30/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Luther- Norse - Test optional; Bennington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bennington Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Luther- Norse students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Bennington (3.51).
• Luther- Norse has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Bennington (44.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Luther- Norse vs. 11.5% at Bennington.

Luther- Norse vs. Bennington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Luther- Norse and Bennington? 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 Bennington College's (67%).
• Graduates from Luther College earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than Bennington graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,000 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bennington College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Luther- Norse graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Bennington graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Luther- Norse graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Luther- Norse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bennington students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 77%)

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.