Admit rate has ranged 59%–72% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Augustana University, a Lutheran-affiliated liberal arts college in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, combines rigorous academics with a tight-knit community vibe. Known for its strong outcomes—99% of 2024 graduates landed jobs or further education—it offers a personalized education where half of students pursue multiple majors. With a 67% acceptance rate and a median post-grad salary of $36,427, Augustana strikes a balance between accessibility and return on investment.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,965
In-state tuition
$40,160
Out-of-state tuition
$40,160
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
Double Majors
50% of students
Acceptance Rate
67.74%
Graduation Rate
79%
On-Campus Housing
66% of students
Median Early Salary
$36,427
Most Popular Majors
Business, Biological Sciences
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$59,217
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.5×
Median debt at graduation
$25,000
Graduation rate
73%
First-year retention
86%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
83%
Pell (lower-income) share
35%
First-generation share
14%
Endowment / student
$64,403
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$57,724
Business Administration, Management and Operations$44,666
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$43,426
Special Education and Teaching$39,009
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$39,009
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
4
Per 1,000 students
2.04
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
88
Summer high
83°F
Winter low
13°F
Annual rain
26.6"
Annual snow
32.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
268
Scholarly works
1,514
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Augustana University?
Augustana University's acceptance rate is approximately 68% (Sioux Falls, SD), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Augustana University?
Admitted students at Augustana University typically score 1150–1370 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Augustana University cost?
At Augustana University, the average net price (after aid) is about $23,894 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Augustana University?
Augustana University enrolls approximately 1,965 undergraduate students.
Where is Augustana University located?
Augustana University is located in Sioux Falls, SD.
Admissions
Augustana University is moderately selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. of 67.74% (higher than its Illinois namesake’s 62.8%). Admitted students typically have SAT scores between 1190–1348 or ACT scores of 20–27. The admissions office emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., with no strict cutoffs—though scoring above a 1348 SAT or 27 ACT nearly guarantees admission. Contact info: (605) 274-5516 or toll-free (800) 727-2844.
Augustana offers 100+ majors, minors, and pre-professional programs, with business and biological sciences as the most popular. Half of students double major, leveraging the school’s flexibility to build interdisciplinary skills. The College of Arts & Sciences emphasizes both depth in a discipline and broad liberal arts training. Reddit reviews highlight professor accessibility and challenging coursework, noting it’s 'tough but supportive.'
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
$37,928
History$36,848
Business/Corporate Communications$35,060
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
With 66% of students living on campus, Augustana fosters a residential community heavy on involvement. The Office of Student Life organizes arts, cultural events, and intramurals, while Sioux Falls provides off-campus research and seasonal events. Niche reviews praise the 'easy-to-meet-people' culture, with clubs and activities central to social life.
Augustana delivers exceptional ROI: 99% of 2024 graduates secured jobs or grad school within six months, with 69% staying in South Dakota. The median early-career salary is $36,427. Notably, 24% of students are Pell Grant recipients, and they graduate at a 71% rate—far above the national average for low-income students. The overall graduation rate is 79%, ranking in the top 15% nationally.
The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost.—after aid—averages $23,534. Augustana offers robust financial aid, including need-based packages averaging $39,995 for freshmen. The Net Price Calculator helps families estimate costs, though it’s not a final offer. Notably, international students receive an average of $23,534 in aid.
Augustana’s blend of Lutheran values, academic rigor, and Sioux Falls’ urban resources creates a unique niche. Its 10:1 student-faculty ratio ensures mentorship, while the 99% outcomes rate—coupled with accessibility for Pell recipients—makes it a social mobility engine. The culture rewards curiosity: from double majors to undergrad research, students leave as versatile thinkers with a pragmatic edge.
Augustana University logo · sourceVisit Campus | Augustana University · sourceAugustana University welcomes students from South Asia! | Augustana University · sourceAugustana University - Sioux Falls, SD | Appily · source
