Luther- Norse vs. Dakota State

Should I go to Luther College or Dakota State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Luther- Norse or Dakota State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Luther College vs. Dakota State University comparison
Luther College Dakota State University College 3 College 4
Luther College Dakota State University
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Overview

Luther- Norse Dakota State
Location Decorah, IA Madison, SD
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,610 3,241
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #336 #808
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website luther.edu dsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Luther- Norse Dakota State
Tuition (In State) $47,510 $7,616
Tuition (Out of State) $47,510 $10,718
Room & Board $10,670 $8,018
Avg Net Price $25,734 $17,977
Avg Grant Aid $35,441 $5,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 92%

Admission

Luther- Norse Dakota State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,188 882
Admitted 1,648 696
Acceptance Rate 75.3% 78.9%
Enrolled % 24.3% 53.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/29 19/27
SAT Range 1075/1330 940/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Luther- Norse Dakota State
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (28%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (3%)

Outcomes

Luther- Norse Dakota State
Graduation Rate 69% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,000 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $242

Diversity

Luther- Norse Dakota State
% Men 45% 64%
% Women 55% 36%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 84%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Luther- Norse Dakota State
% In-State 26% 58%
% Out-of-State 60% 39%

Campus

Luther- Norse Dakota State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Dakota State University is larger than than Luther- Norse based on total student enrollment (3,241 students vs. 1,610 students)

Luther- Norse vs. Dakota State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Luther- Norse or Dakota State?

  • Luther College is 523.8% more expensive to attend than Dakota State for in-state tuition ($47,510.00 vs. $7,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 343.3% higher at Luther- Norse than Dakota State University ($47,510.00 vs. $10,718.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dakota State University than Luther- Norse ($17,977 vs. $25,734)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota State University are 33.1% lower than costs at Luther College ($8,018 vs. $10,670)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Luther College than Dakota State University (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Luther College students is 548.3% larger than aid received Dakota State University ($35,441 vs. $5,467)

Luther- Norse vs. Dakota State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Luther- Norse or Dakota State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Dakota State or Luther- Norse .

  • The average SAT score at Luther College (1179) is 132 points higher than at Dakota State (1047)
  • Incoming Luther- Norse students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Dakota State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Luther- Norse students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Dakota State (3.33)
  • Dakota State has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Luther- Norse (75.3%)

Luther- Norse vs. Dakota State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Luther- Norse or Dakota State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Dakota State and Luther- Norse.

  • The graduation rate at Luther- Norse is higher than Dakota State University (69% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Luther College earn on average $7,800 more per year than Dakota State graduates after ten years. ($50,000 vs. $42,200)
  • Dakota State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Luther- Norse graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Dakota State graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Luther- Norse graduates. ($242 vs. $279)
  • More Luther- Norse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/