Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 75.6%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 75.6%
- Retention Rate
- 83.5%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $59,217
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $25,000
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 82.9%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $265/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $57,724 | $25,000 |
| Education, General. | Master | $48,883 | $15,110 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $44,666 | $24,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor | $43,426 | |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Bachelor | $39,009 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $39,009 | $24,190 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $37,928 | $25,550 |
| History. | Bachelor | $36,848 | |
| Business/Corporate Communications. | Bachelor | $35,060 | |
| American Sign Language. | Bachelor | $33,993 | |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $32,925 | $24,625 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor | $32,569 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $31,851 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $29,685 | $23,448 |
Outcomes Overview
Augustana graduates earn a median of $59,217 ten years after graduation, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 with typical debt loads of $25,000. Monthly loan payments of $265 represent just 5.4% of median income, well below the recommended 10% threshold. The 97.5% employment rate reflects strong job placement across education, healthcare, and business sectors where Augustana's Lutheran liberal arts foundation provides solid preparation. With 83% of borrowers successfully repaying loans and graduates out-earning the typical South Dakota college graduate, the financial picture looks favorable. Despite the $49,660 total cost, the combination of strong employment outcomes and reasonable debt burden delivers a strong return on investment.