“A nationally recognized Lutheran liberal arts college on the banks of the Mississippi River.”
Augustana College is a selective private liberal arts and sciences college founded in 1860 by Swedish Lutheran settlers, situated on a wooded 115-acre campus along the Mississippi River in Rock Island, Illinois. Part of the Quad-Cities metropolitan area and approximately 165 miles west of Chicago, Augustana offers an intimate academic community rooted in the liberal arts tradition, with more than 90 majors and programs spanning the humanities, fine arts, natural and social sciences, and pre-professional fields including engineering, law, and medicine. A student-faculty ratio of 12:1 ensures close mentorship and genuine research partnerships that often begin in the first year. Augustana has earned national recognition as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the country, ranked #34 for Most Innovative Schools by U.S. News & World Report 2026. The college has made a notable commitment to global diversity: international students comprise approximately 20% of the student body, and Augustana ranks 6th in the nation among baccalaureate colleges for international student enrollment according to the federal 2024 Open Doors Report. Top represented countries include Ethiopia, Morocco, Nepal, Vietnam, and Pakistan, creating a vibrant, multicultural community supported by a dedicated Office of International Student and Scholar Services. The residential campus experience is central to Augustana's identity. First-year and sophomore students live in traditional residence halls, while juniors transition to apartment-style Transitional Living Areas (TLAs) and seniors typically move off campus — a developmental arc that mirrors growing independence. Campus life includes 15 Greek organizations, a Culture Collective of globally-focused student organizations, and more than 100 clubs and activities. The Quad-Cities metropolitan area of 470,000 people provides robust internship and career opportunities in healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and the arts.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Most Innovative Schools
US News 2026
Best Value Schools
US News 2026
Best Liberal Arts Colleges Midwest
Wall Street Journal 2025
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Decision
Binding; minimum $29,500/year scholarship guaranteed for campus-resident admits
Early Action
Non-binding; decision by December 1
Regular Decision
Decision notification and deposit due May 1
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$49,674
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
English, creative writing, history, philosophy, art, music, theatre, and modern languages
Biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, and 3-2 engineering programs with partner universities
Psychology, sociology, political science, economics, geography, and communication studies
Business administration, accounting, and pre-professional preparation in law, medicine, and engineering
Elementary, secondary, and special education teacher preparation programs with clinical field placements in Quad-Cities schools
4 years
Augustana's most popular program, offering hands-on research from year one, dedicated pre-health advising, and strong medical school placement. STEM OPT eligible for international students.
4 years
Integrates liberal arts breadth with practical business skills in marketing, finance, management, and entrepreneurship, with strong internship placement in the Quad-Cities region.
5 years
Coordinated 3-2 program with partner engineering universities allowing students to earn two bachelor's degrees — one in a liberal arts major at Augustana and one in engineering from a partner institution.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $51,598
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
