Wartburg College
Waverly, Iowa · Private Nonprofit · 75.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 47/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Wartburg College scores 47 (Below Average Value) - a school with one genuine strength and significant weaknesses. The repayment rate of 90.0% at 3 years indicates graduates are managing their debt load despite modest earnings. But the overall ROI suffers from a 12.8-year payback period, $40,700 average 6-year earnings, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.663. Net price of $32,908 is, in our view, high relative to what median earnings can support efficiently. Accounting is the standout program (9 graduates, $61,529 year-one, $89,696 year-four, B grade). Business Administration (57 graduates) earns C+. Teacher Education programs (50 total graduates across two categories) are adequate for the field but produce modest near-term earnings. Biology earns a D grade. The completion rate of 64.3% is workable but not strong. The paradox of Wartburg is that graduates who complete repay well - but the high net price and modest earnings mean a long recovery period even for completers.
Wartburg College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $26,250/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $26,250/yr |
| Average net price | $32,908/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $131,632 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,201 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,452 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $26,250/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $32,908/year, or roughly $131,632 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $21,688/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $38,864/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,700) and comes to 0.66, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,688 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,751 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,056 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,873 |
| $110,001+ | $38,864 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $21,688 per year at Wartburg. Average earnings are $40,700, and payback is 12.8 years. Wartburg's Pell rate is 22.1%.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $27,056, rising to $28,873 for the 75001-110000 tier. Middle-income families face a net price that exceeds what the median graduate earns, implying a payback period of over a decade at any program but accounting or business.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $38,864 per year - nearly $155,456 over four years. Only accounting and business administration have year-four earnings that approach a reasonable return on full-price investment. The small-college residential experience is real, but it carries a steep premium here.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Wartburg College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $74,824 | C+ |
| Biology | $67,036 | D |
| Psychology | $47,110 | C |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $48,074 | C |
| Teacher Education | $47,698 | C |
| Engineering Science | $78,959 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,433 | C |
| Accounting | $89,696 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting is Wartburg's best ROI program: 9 graduates (small sample), $61,529 year-one, $89,696 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.436 (B grade) on median debt of $26,840. The four-year figure of $89k is strong for an Iowa liberal arts school and reflects the CPA pipeline.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is the largest program at 57 graduates: $54,652 year-one, $74,824 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.494 (C+ grade) on median debt of $27,000. The C+ grade reflects that the debt load is present but manageable, and year-one earnings are above the school average.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Subject-specific teacher education (27 graduates) earns a C grade: $45,677 year-one, $48,074 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.591 on median debt of $27,000. Iowa teacher salaries cap the earnings trajectory. The C grade reflects that earnings are stable but not growing rapidly, and the debt burden is proportionate. Teaching is a calling-driven field where financial optimization is rarely the primary motivation.
Biology
Biology (29 graduates) earns a D grade: $34,398 year-one, $67,036 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.785 on median debt of $27,000. The year-one figure is low for a biology graduate, consistent with pre-professional students entering low-wage research or clinical assistant positions before pursuing medical or graduate school. The year-four jump to $67k reflects those post-professional career outcomes but the near-term debt burden is heavy.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 90.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Wartburg College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-580 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 470-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,452 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 22.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,194 |
Wartburg's 75.8% admission rate and ACT 21-27 range indicate moderate selectivity. The school is accessible to students with typical academic preparation. Admission is not the barrier - cost management and program selection are the key financial decisions. Families should use the net price calculator carefully given the high average net price relative to outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The 90% repayment rate is distinctly strong and suggests graduates have stable enough careers to service debt. However, the high net price and modest earnings limit the overall score.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wartburg College (this school) | 47 | $32,908 | $56,201 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Lubbock Christian University | 46 | $24,456 | $53,787 |
| Alfred University | 43 | $25,620 | $54,897 |
| Buena Vista University | 39 | $18,846 | $49,156 |
Who Thrives Here
Wartburg admits 75.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 460-580 Math and 470-620 Reading, ACT 21-27. Enrollment is 1,452 on a residential campus in Waverly, Iowa. Pell rate of 22.1% is relatively low, suggesting a predominantly middle- and upper-income student body. The Lutheran affiliation shapes community life significantly. Students who thrive here tend to value the small college residential experience and are willing to pay a premium for it. However, the $32,908 net price requires careful program selection to produce acceptable financial outcomes.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Wartburg College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $32,908 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,201 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Wartburg College: Common Questions
Is Wartburg College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Wartburg College scores 47/100 on our ROI scale. At $32,908 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,201 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Wartburg College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $32,908 a year, or roughly $131,632 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Wartburg College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,201 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,401 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Wartburg College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.8 years for Wartburg College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Wartburg College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $40,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Wartburg College?
The six-year graduation rate is 64.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.