Augustana vs. WLC

Deciding between Augustana College and Wisconsin Lutheran 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.

Augustana College
Wisconsin Lutheran College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Augustana Rock Island, IL
  • WLC Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • Augustana Small City
  • WLC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Augustana 2,570
  • WLC 1,027
  • Type
  • Augustana Private 4 Year
  • WLC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Augustana #311
  • WLC #397
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • WLC Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
  • Status
  • Augustana Non-profit
  • WLC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Augustana
  • WLC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Augustana $51,598
  • WLC $36,110
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Augustana $51,598
  • WLC $36,110
  • Room & Board
  • Augustana $12,502
  • WLC $12,250
  • Average Net Price
  • Augustana $24,714
  • WLC $24,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Augustana $39,242
  • WLC $24,624
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Augustana 100%
  • WLC 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Augustana 7,857
  • WLC 1,575
  • Admitted
  • Augustana 4,925
  • WLC 1,231
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Augustana 62.7%
  • WLC 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Augustana 13.5%
  • WLC 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Augustana 1150
  • WLC 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • Augustana 25
  • WLC 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Augustana 3.3
  • WLC 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Augustana B+
  • WLC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Augustana Challenging
  • WLC Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Augustana Low
  • WLC
  • ACT Range
  • Augustana 21/29
  • WLC 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • Augustana 1030/1270
  • WLC 970/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Augustana Test optional
  • WLC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Augustana Aug 1, 2027
  • WLC
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Augustana 12:1
  • WLC 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Augustana
    • Business (19%)
    • Biology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • WLC
    • Communication (19%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Augustana 76%
  • WLC 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Augustana $55,100
  • WLC $43,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Augustana 81%
  • WLC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Augustana $27,000
  • WLC $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Augustana $279
  • WLC $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Augustana 47%
  • WLC 49%
  • % Women
  • Augustana 53%
  • WLC 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Augustana Low
  • WLC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Augustana No
  • WLC No
  • % White
  • Augustana 76%
  • WLC 83%
  • % Asian
  • Augustana 2%
  • WLC 1%
  • % Black
  • Augustana 4%
  • WLC 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Augustana 10%
  • WLC 5%
  • % Native American
  • Augustana 0%
  • WLC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Augustana 0%
  • WLC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Augustana 4%
  • WLC 2%
  • % International
  • Augustana 4%
  • WLC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Augustana 1%
  • WLC 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Augustana 53%
  • WLC 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Augustana 21%
  • WLC 31%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Augustana Yes
  • WLC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Augustana No
  • WLC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Augustana Yes
  • WLC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Augustana No
  • WLC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Augustana No
  • WLC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Augustana College is larger than WLC based on total student enrollment (2,570 students vs. 1,027 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Augustana College is located in Rock Island, IL (Small City setting); Wisconsin Lutheran College is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Augustana College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Augustana College 12:1; Wisconsin Lutheran College 11:1.

Augustana vs. WLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Augustana or WLC? 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 Wisconsin Lutheran College than Augustana ($24,095 vs. $24,714).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wisconsin Lutheran College are 2% lower than at Augustana College ($12,250 vs. $12,502).
  • Augustana College is 42.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than WLC (about $15,488 more per year; $51,598.00 vs. $36,110.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.9% higher at Augustana than at Wisconsin Lutheran College (about $15,488 more per year; $51,598.00 vs. $36,110.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Augustana College as at Wisconsin Lutheran College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Augustana College students is 59.4% larger than aid received by Wisconsin Lutheran College students ($39,242 vs. $24,624).

Augustana vs. WLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Augustana or WLC? 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 WLC and Augustana.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Augustana College (1150) is 50 points higher than at WLC (1100).
  • Incoming WLC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Augustana).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 1030/1270; Wisconsin Lutheran College 970/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 21/29; Wisconsin Lutheran College 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Augustana - Test optional; WLC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Augustana Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WLC students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Augustana (3.3).
  • WLC has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Augustana (62.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Augustana vs. 20.2% at WLC.

Augustana vs. WLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Augustana and WLC? 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).

  • Augustana College's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Wisconsin Lutheran College's (63%).
  • Graduates from Augustana College earn a median of about $12,100 more per year than WLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,100 vs. $43,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Augustana graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WLC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Augustana graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More Augustana graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WLC students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.