,·private
Augustana University is a private Lutheran liberal arts university in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, founded in 1860 by Norwegian-American settlers and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). South Dakota's largest private university, Augustana enrolls approximately 2,100 students — including over 1,800 undergraduates — across 100+ majors, minors, and pre-professional programs, with particular strength in nursing, biology, business, education, and health sciences. Augustana is ranked #7 in Regional Universities Midwest and #1 for Best Value by U.S. News & World Report, and its nursing program is ranked #1 in South Dakota by Niche. The university has strong international engagement: approximately 250 international students from 55+ countries represent roughly 12% of the student body, making it one of the more internationally diverse small universities in the region. All full-time undergraduate international students receive automatic merit scholarships averaging $19,500 per year, reducing the typical annual cost to $24,000-$30,000. The 100-acre campus is set in an urban location in Sioux Falls — South Dakota's largest and fastest-growing city — providing students with access to major healthcare systems, financial services firms, and a growing technology sector. The 12:1 student-faculty ratio and first- and second-year mandatory on-campus housing policy foster close community bonds.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$22268 – $41768
/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.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $40,160
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.
