Luther College expands scholarship programs for incoming, transfer students
Luther College is expanding its scholarship offerings for incoming and transfer students starting in fall 2024.
The Decorah-based college announced Monday that it would add two new scholarships, expand the reach of its Iowa and Minnesota Impact Award and increase the dollar amount provided by merit-based scholarships.
“I’m extremely proud to work at an institution that offers competitive scholarships for students of all backgrounds,” said Matt Beatty, director of admissions at Luther, in a news release. “While there is increased skepticism about the value of a four-year college degree, Luther continues to offer a broad range of financial awards that reduce the overall out-of-pocket costs to families.”
The new First Generation Award will provide students whose parents don’t hold a bachelor’s degree with $2,000 each year, and the new Campus Visit Award will give first-year and transfer students who visit campus before enrolling $1,000 per year.
Luther’s Iowa and Minnesota Impact Award has been changed to allow high-achieving students from Minnesota as well as Iowa to qualify for free tuition. Eligible students must live in Iowa or Minnesota, have a family adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less with a “typical amount of reportable assets for a family with a $80,000 adjusted gross income” according to the college’s website, and have a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher. They must be incoming first-year or transfer students, and live on campus each year the award is received.
“Luther College is excited to extend our Iowa Impact Award to students in Minnesota considering Luther for the upcoming year and beyond,” said Karen Hunt, vice president for enrollment management, in the news release. “With our location in the Driftless Region, so close to the Minnesota border, we want to do all we can to make our distinctive and transformative education at Luther College affordable for students in both states.”
The college has also raised the amount students will receive through its five academic scholarships by “several thousand dollars,” according to the release. Luther’s highest merit-based scholarship, the Founders Scholarship, was increased from $28,000 per year to $34,000 per year.
Every student receives some form of financial aid from Luther, according to the release, and in fall 2022, the student body received nearly $50 million from more than 850 different funds.
“Luther College is committed to rewarding students for their academic excellence and providing access to a top national college,” Hunt said.