Luther- Norse vs. University of Puget Sound

Deciding between Luther College and University of Puget Sound? 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.

Luther College
University of Puget Sound

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Luther- Norse Decorah, IA
  • University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA
  • Setting
  • Luther- Norse Remote Town
  • University of Puget Sound Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Luther- Norse 1,384
  • University of Puget Sound 1,864
  • Type
  • Luther- Norse Private 4 Year
  • University of Puget Sound Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Luther- Norse #235
  • University of Puget Sound #197
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Luther- Norse Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • University of Puget Sound -
  • Status
  • Luther- Norse Non-profit
  • University of Puget Sound Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Luther- Norse
  • University of Puget Sound

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Luther- Norse $52,120
  • University of Puget Sound $62,898
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Luther- Norse $52,120
  • University of Puget Sound $62,898
  • Room & Board
  • Luther- Norse $11,530
  • University of Puget Sound $16,498
  • Average Net Price
  • Luther- Norse $24,511
  • University of Puget Sound $43,188
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Luther- Norse $40,917
  • University of Puget Sound $35,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Luther- Norse 100%
  • University of Puget Sound 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Luther- Norse 2,632
  • University of Puget Sound 5,239
  • Admitted
  • Luther- Norse 1,883
  • University of Puget Sound 3,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Luther- Norse 71.5%
  • University of Puget Sound 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Luther- Norse 19.9%
  • University of Puget Sound 11.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Luther- Norse 1240
  • University of Puget Sound 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Luther- Norse 25
  • University of Puget Sound 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Luther- Norse 3.65
  • University of Puget Sound 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Luther- Norse A-
  • University of Puget Sound A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Luther- Norse Difficult
  • University of Puget Sound Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Luther- Norse Low
  • University of Puget Sound Low
  • ACT Range
  • Luther- Norse 22/29
  • University of Puget Sound 27/31
  • SAT Range
  • Luther- Norse 1078/1406
  • University of Puget Sound 1170/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Luther- Norse Test optional
  • University of Puget Sound Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Luther- Norse
  • University of Puget Sound Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Luther- Norse 9:1
  • University of Puget Sound 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Luther- Norse
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • University of Puget Sound
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Luther- Norse 69%
  • University of Puget Sound 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Luther- Norse $50,000
  • University of Puget Sound $57,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Luther- Norse 82%
  • University of Puget Sound 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Luther- Norse $27,000
  • University of Puget Sound $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Luther- Norse $279
  • University of Puget Sound $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Luther- Norse 48%
  • University of Puget Sound 41%
  • % Women
  • Luther- Norse 52%
  • University of Puget Sound 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Luther- Norse Very Low
  • University of Puget Sound Low
  • HBCU
  • Luther- Norse No
  • University of Puget Sound No
  • % White
  • Luther- Norse 84%
  • University of Puget Sound 74%
  • % Asian
  • Luther- Norse 2%
  • University of Puget Sound 6%
  • % Black
  • Luther- Norse 2%
  • University of Puget Sound 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Luther- Norse 4%
  • University of Puget Sound 7%
  • % Native American
  • Luther- Norse 0%
  • University of Puget Sound 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Luther- Norse 0%
  • University of Puget Sound 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Luther- Norse 2%
  • University of Puget Sound 8%
  • % International
  • Luther- Norse 6%
  • University of Puget Sound 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Luther- Norse 0%
  • University of Puget Sound 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Luther- Norse 27%
  • University of Puget Sound 33%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Luther- Norse 59%
  • University of Puget Sound 67%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Luther- Norse Yes
  • University of Puget Sound Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Luther- Norse No
  • University of Puget Sound No
  • Meal Plan
  • Luther- Norse Yes
  • University of Puget Sound Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Luther- Norse No
  • University of Puget Sound No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Luther- Norse No
  • University of Puget Sound No

Comparable Facts

Compare Luther College in Decorah, IA with University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Puget Sound is larger than Luther- Norse based on total student enrollment (1,864 students vs. 1,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Luther College is located in Decorah, IA (Remote Town setting); University of Puget Sound is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
  • Luther College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Puget Sound is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Luther College 9:1; University of Puget Sound 10:1.

Luther- Norse vs. University of Puget Sound Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Luther- Norse or University of Puget Sound? 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 University of Puget Sound ($24,511 vs. $43,188).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Luther College are 30.1% lower than at University of Puget Sound ($11,530 vs. $16,498).
  • University of Puget Sound is 20.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Luther- Norse (about $10,778 more per year; $62,898.00 vs. $52,120.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.7% higher at University of Puget Sound than at Luther College (about $10,778 more per year; $62,898.00 vs. $52,120.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Luther College than at University of Puget Sound (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Luther College students is 16.3% larger than aid received by University of Puget Sound students ($40,917 vs. $35,179).

Luther- Norse vs. University of Puget Sound Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Luther- Norse or University of Puget Sound? 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 University of Puget Sound and Luther- Norse.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Puget Sound (1280) is 40 points higher than at Luther- Norse (1240).
  • Incoming University of Puget Sound students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Luther- Norse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Luther College 1078/1406; University of Puget Sound 1170/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Luther College 22/29; University of Puget Sound 27/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Luther- Norse - Test optional; University of Puget Sound - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Puget Sound Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Luther- Norse students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at University of Puget Sound (3.56).
  • University of Puget Sound has a higher acceptance rate (72.2%) than Luther- Norse (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Luther- Norse vs. 11.4% at University of Puget Sound.

Luther- Norse vs. University of Puget Sound Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Luther- Norse and University of Puget Sound? 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).

  • University of Puget Sound's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Luther College's (69%).
  • Graduates from University of Puget Sound earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Luther- Norse graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,600 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Puget Sound and Luther- Norse graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Puget Sound and Luther- Norse graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More University of Puget Sound graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Luther- Norse students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.