Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Wartburg College #1335 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,373, placing Wartburg College in the 33.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Wartburg College sits in the 30.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Wartburg College #1335 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 9.9 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Waverly, Iowa, Wartburg College enrolls roughly 1,452 undergraduates. Retention is 75.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.3%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Wartburg College delivers meaningful long-term financial outcomes. Azimuth ranks Wartburg College #715 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 51.7 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,373, placing Wartburg College in the 33.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,559 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Wartburg College in the 30.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability round out the composite profile. Wartburg College enrolls 22.1% Pell-eligible students and 17.4% first-generation undergraduates, positioning the college as accessible to students from a range of economic backgrounds. Azimuth ranks Wartburg College in the 11.6 percentile for access and the 10.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college's strength in Business and related fields supports both early-career earnings and pathways into stable careers, anchoring the institution's value proposition for students seeking a smaller, residential liberal arts experience with clear financial outcomes.
Published cost of attendance is $64,359. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $21,688, middle-income families pay around $27,056, higher-income families pay approximately $38,864. Azimuth ranks Wartburg College #1283 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 10.0 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,152. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,373, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Wartburg College is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in IA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,373, placing Wartburg College in the 33.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,559 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 30.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. 22.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.4% are first-generation students. Published cost of attendance is $64,359 and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $21,688 after need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 75.8% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Wartburg College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $64,359. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $21,688, middle-income families pay around $27,056, higher-income families pay approximately $38,864.
Azimuth ranks Wartburg College #1283 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 10.0 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,152.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,373, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Wartburg College earn median 4-year earnings of $58,373, placing Wartburg College in the 33.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,559 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 30.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Wartburg College #715 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Business/Commerce, General reports 76 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $74,824. Biology, General reports 31 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $67,036.
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas reports 27 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $48,074. Psychology, General reports 24 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $47,110.
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
14 graduates
Engineering Science
11 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
76 graduates
Biology, General
31 graduates
Communication and Media Studies, Other
15 graduates
Wartburg College's program mix centers on Business, reflecting the institution's applied-professional orientation as a private liberal arts college. The largest programs by enrollment are Business/Commerce, General with 76 graduates, Biology, General with 31 graduates, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education with 27 graduates, followed by Psychology, General and Kinesiology.
Across 25 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 380 students annually. The institution's strongest earnings outcomes cluster in Business-adjacent fields.
Accounting leads with median earnings of $89,696 four years after enrollment from 14 graduates, followed by Business/Commerce, General at $74,824 and Biology, General at $67,036. Communication and Media Studies and Subject-Specific Teacher Education round out the highest-earning programs, delivering $48,433 and $48,074 respectively.
This concentration reflects Wartburg College's strength in career-focused disciplines where employers actively recruit and early-career earnings reflect direct labor-market entry. The program portfolio balances applied-professional pathways with liberal arts breadth.
Business/Commerce, General, the largest program, generates substantial graduate volume and anchors the institution's economic profile through both scale and earnings. Several of these programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect national labor-market outcomes, while others support further education or professional certification.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Wartburg College's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Concordia College At Moorhead Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36014 ranked) | MN | 63% | $59,317 | #36014 | Compare |
Northwestern College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36010 ranked) | IA | 80% | $49,802 | #36010 | Compare |
Limestone University Similar quality tier (#36009 ranked) | SC | 97% | $44,999 | #36009 | Compare |
William Jessup University Similar quality tier (#36007 ranked) | CA | 93% | $56,257 | #36007 | Compare |
Guilford College Similar quality tier (#36006 ranked) | NC | 80% | $47,590 | #36006 | Compare |
