Wartburg College vs. BAC

Comparable Facts

Compare Wartburg College in Waverly, IA with Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wartburg College is larger than BAC based on total student enrollment (1,483 students vs. 1,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wartburg College is located in Waverly, IA (Distant Town setting); Belmont Abbey College is in Belmont, NC (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Wartburg College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Belmont Abbey College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wartburg College 13:1; Belmont Abbey College 12:1.

Wartburg College vs. BAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wartburg College or BAC? 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 Wartburg College than BAC ($24,031 vs. $24,726).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wartburg College are 9.4% lower than at Belmont Abbey College ($11,750 vs. $12,974).
• Wartburg College is 34.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than BAC (about $6,750 more per year; $26,250.00 vs. $19,500.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at Wartburg College than at Belmont Abbey College (about $6,750 more per year; $26,250.00 vs. $19,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Belmont Abbey College than at Wartburg College (99% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wartburg College students is 296.7% larger than aid received by Belmont Abbey College students ($40,336 vs. $10,168).

Wartburg College vs. BAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wartburg College or BAC? 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 BAC and Wartburg College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Belmont Abbey College (1080) is 10 points higher than at Wartburg College (1070).
• Incoming Wartburg College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at BAC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 930/1200; Belmont Abbey College 960/1200.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 21/27; Belmont Abbey College 18/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wartburg College - Test optional; BAC - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Wartburg College students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at BAC (3.32).
• Wartburg College has a higher acceptance rate (75.8%) than BAC (74.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.6% at Wartburg College vs. 12.6% at BAC.

Wartburg College vs. BAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wartburg College and BAC? 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).

• Wartburg College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Belmont Abbey College's (38%).
• Graduates from Wartburg College earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than BAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,100 vs. $41,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Belmont Abbey College and Wartburg College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Belmont Abbey College and Wartburg College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Wartburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BAC students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 40%)

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.