Augustana (IL): A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Augustana College · Rock Island, Illinois · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Action
- 7,956
- Applicants
- 5,273
- Admitted66%
- 671
- Enrolled
- 13%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective66% admittedRanked #91 (tie) in National Liberal Arts CollegesU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Augustana College (see the source), read on 2026-09-18.
Is Augustana (IL) a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Augustana (IL) against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Augustana (IL) is a private nonprofit university in Rock Island, Illinois that admits about 66% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $22,736 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Biology, General, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 72% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 4.8 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Augustana (IL) is a private institution located in Rock Island, Illinois with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Augustana (IL) admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 66%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1140. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,736 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Augustana (IL)?
67% of enrolled students at Augustana (IL) had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.4, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Augustana (IL) with the other schools on your list
Open Augustana (IL) in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does Augustana (IL) weight in admissions?
Augustana (IL) reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Level of applicant's interest
Important
2- Application essay
- Extracurricular activities
Considered
13- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
SAT and ACT scores Augustana (IL) typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 510–640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–29. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1020 |
| 50th percentile | 1140 |
| 75th percentile | 1280 |
| % submitting SAT | 49% |
| 25th percentile | 21 |
| 50th percentile | 24 |
| 75th percentile | 28 |
| % submitting ACT | 10% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional since 2007; scores considered only if the student self-reports or sends them. Test-optional applicants remain eligible for academic scholarships.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Augustana (IL)'s admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 22% |
| Top 25% of class | 55% |
| Top 50% of class | 88% |
| % submitting class rank | 30% |
How much does Augustana (IL) actually cost?
Published tuition is $51,598 for in-state students and $51,598 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,502 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,736 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 24% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $53,186 |
| Room and board | $12,862 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $22,736 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 88% |
| Average need-based grant | $41,238 |
| Average merit award, no financial need257 first-year students received one | $36,198 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 64% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $34,985 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $0 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Augustana (IL)
| Regular deadline | 8/20 |
| Notification date | 1/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| ED acceptance rate | 94% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Augustana (IL)?
These predict outcomes at Augustana (IL) better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Augustana (IL)
The most popular undergraduate programs at Augustana (IL), measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Biology, General, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Augustana (IL) confers roughly 369 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Biology, General program report a median income of about $63,514 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 78 | $63,514 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 59 | $48,710 |
| Psychology, General | 52 | $57,918 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 51 | $72,234 |
| Marketing | 37 | n/a |
| Communication and Media Studies | 34 | $63,279 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 31 | $80,334 |
| Computer Science | 27 | $76,294 |
Is Augustana (IL) safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Augustana (IL) disclosed 12 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Augustana (IL)?
About 68% of undergraduates at Augustana (IL) live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Illinois parents ask about
- Wheaton College87% acceptance
- University of Chicago4% acceptance
- Northwestern University8% acceptance
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign42% acceptance
- University of Illinois Chicago77% acceptance
- DePaul University76% acceptance
- Loyola University Chicago82% acceptance
- Illinois State University88% acceptance
Next steps for Augustana (IL)
Common questions parents ask about Augustana (IL)
What GPA do I need for Augustana (IL)?
67% of enrolled students at Augustana (IL) had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.4, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Augustana (IL) typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 510–640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 21–29.
How much does Augustana (IL) actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Augustana (IL) after grants and scholarships is $22,736 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $51,598. Budget against the net figure.
Is Augustana (IL) realistic for my child?
Augustana (IL) admits 66% of applicants, so 510–640 SAT Math is target range and below 510 is a reach. Then check the $22,736 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Augustana (IL)?
Augustana (IL) accepts about 66% of applicants out of roughly 7,956 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Augustana (IL) test-optional?
Yes. Augustana (IL) is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Augustana (IL)?
About 72% of students at Augustana (IL) graduate within six years, and 64% finish in four years. 82% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Augustana (IL)?
Augustana (IL)'s Early Decision acceptance rate is about 94%, compared with its overall rate of 66%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Augustana (IL) look for in applicants?
Augustana (IL) rates course rigor, GPA and demonstrated interest as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Augustana (IL) a public or private school, and where is it located?
Augustana (IL) is a private nonprofit institution located in Rock Island, Illinois.
What are the most popular majors at Augustana (IL)?
The largest undergraduate majors at Augustana (IL) by annual graduates are Biology, General, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas and Psychology, General. The school awards about 369 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Augustana (IL) safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Augustana (IL) reported 12 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 4.8 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Augustana (IL)?
At Augustana (IL), 68% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Augustana College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers