After Luther College: graduation, pay and debt
Decorah, Iowa · Private · 1,379 undergrads
75% of Luther College students finish within six years, the typical student earns $61,821 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $27,000 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$61.8k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
75%
finish within six years.
63%
finish in four years.
77%
of first-years come back for year two.
$27k
median federal debt at graduation.
83%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
63%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
75%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
77%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
68%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
80%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
516
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
73%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
21%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
626
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
17%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$50,748
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$61,821
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
71%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$27,000
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$22,200
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$23,838
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$21,000
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
83%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
85%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
89%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers