Luther- Norse vs. College of the Atlantic

Comparable Facts

Compare Luther College in Decorah, IA with College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Luther College is larger than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (1,384 students vs. 358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Luther- Norse vs. College of the Atlantic Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Luther- Norse or College of the Atlantic? 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 College of the Atlantic than Luther- Norse ($21,829 vs. $24,511).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 9.8% lower than at Luther College ($10,404 vs. $11,530).
• Luther College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Atlantic (about $4,123 more per year; $52,120.00 vs. $47,997.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at Luther- Norse than at College of the Atlantic (about $4,123 more per year; $52,120.00 vs. $47,997.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Luther College as at College of the Atlantic (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Luther College students is 12.3% larger than aid received by College of the Atlantic students ($40,917 vs. $36,437).

Luther- Norse vs. College of the Atlantic Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Luther- Norse or College of the Atlantic? 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 College of the Atlantic and Luther- Norse.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of the Atlantic (1340) is 100 points higher than at Luther- Norse (1240).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Luther College 1078/1406; College of the Atlantic 1240/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Luther College 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Luther- Norse - Test optional; College of the Atlantic - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: College of the Atlantic Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman College of the Atlantic students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Luther- Norse (3.65).
• Luther- Norse has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than College of the Atlantic (70.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Luther- Norse vs. 23.4% at College of the Atlantic.

Luther- Norse vs. College of the Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Luther- Norse and College of the Atlantic? 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).

• College of the Atlantic's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Luther College's (69%).
• Graduates from Luther College earn a median of about $21,800 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,000 vs. $28,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Atlantic graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than Luther- Norse graduates ($19,750 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, College of the Atlantic graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Luther- Norse graduates ($204 vs. $279).
• More Luther- Norse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Atlantic students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 75%)

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.