Augustana College Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid

Augustana College's aid pattern leaves lower-income aid recipients with lower average net prices than families in the upper bands. Aid covers about 64% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, a discount of $40,817 from the sticker price.

In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported that first-year recipients with need had an average 88% of need met in the 2025-26 academic year. Their average need-based grant was $41,238, and their average package was $47,957.

The university reported 407 first-year students determined to have need and 88 whose need was fully met. For the 2025-26 academic year, it reported 257 first-year merit-aid recipients, with an average merit award of $36,198.

The band pattern shows lower average net prices at lower family incomes, rather than a single price for every aid recipient.

Augustana College lists a cost of attendance of $63,553 (an average across living arrangements). Aid recipients in the lowest family-income band pay an average net price of $15,787, while those in the highest band pay $28,086.

Between them, the lower-middle band averages $16,525, the middle band $16,865, and the upper-middle band $22,405. The gap between the lowest and highest averages is $12,299.

Among nonprofit four-year institutions, Azimuth ranks the college #1,023 for affordability. Aid covers about 64% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, an average savings of $40,817.

Published tuition and fees are $51,598, with $12,502 for room and board. The average net price across all aid recipients is $22,736.

That figure sits $4,635 below the peer median of $27,371 for comparable institutions (same type and size). Federal-loan borrowers who complete leave with median federal student loan debt of $27,000, and 97.2% of federal aid recipients borrow federal loans.

That median is $2,801 above the $24,199 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $307 a month if repaid over ten years.

Median Parent PLUS borrowing among parent borrowers is $37,219.

Borrowing is common at Augustana College, where 97.2% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. For borrowers who completed, median federal student loan debt at completion is $27,000.

Comparable institutions (same type and size) have a peer median federal debt of $24,199; Augustana College is $2,801 above that figure. For separate parent borrowers, median Parent PLUS debt is $37,219.

In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported 64% of graduates borrowed from any source, with an average cumulative amount of $34,985 per borrower. Among those borrowers, including 61% of graduates with federal loans, average cumulative federal debt was $24,497 per borrower.

Including 17% of graduates with private loans, average cumulative private debt was $43,894 per borrower.

At Augustana College, access is the strongest pillar, but earnings and debt make the investment picture less favorable. Federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled have median earnings of $60,377 four years after completion, which Azimuth places in the 52nd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Earnings beyond expectations, the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, are also weak. Graduates earn about $13,708 less than the model expects for similar students.

Azimuth places that measure in the 10th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings scenarios based on the program mix run from $48,707 in the downside case to $86,631 in the upside case, with $60,377 as the typical scenario.

Median federal debt of $27,000 is $2,801 above the peer median of $24,199, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $307 a month if repaid over ten years. Below-expected earnings and debt above peers point in the same direction.

Parent borrowers using Parent PLUS loans have median borrowing of $37,219, a figure separate from federal student borrowing. For student borrowers, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $307 a month if repaid over ten years.

Sources and reporting periods: methodology.

Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.