Augsburg University

Private · Moderately Selective · MN

Photo: McGhiever (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationMN · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads2,494

Student:faculty14:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate40%

6-yr grad rate51.7%

Drop-out rate27.7%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$45k

Out-of-state tuition$45k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity70%

Gender diversity54.8%

International2.5%

IdentityEvangelical Lutheran Church

Overview

Augsburg University is a private university in Minneapolis's Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Founded originally to train Norwegian Lutheran pastors, it has become one of the more diverse private universities in the Upper Midwest, with a mission centered on serving immigrant, first-generation, and neighborhood students alongside more traditional undergraduates. Its urban campus sits a short walk from downtown Minneapolis and directly adjacent to the University of Minnesota's West Bank campus, giving students easy access to a much larger city.

Academics

Augsburg is best known for education, social work, nursing, and other health professions, including an accelerated second-degree nursing track and a physician assistant program. Its liberal arts core is paired with an emphasis on experiential and community-based learning, reflecting the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship's role in campus life. Class sizes are small, and the Augsburg Choir carries a long, nationally recognized touring tradition dating back over a century.

Campus & student life

The Cedar-Riverside setting is dense and urban, with student housing built into an established, culturally diverse neighborhood rather than a self-contained quad. Augsburg draws a notably international and multilingual student body for its size. Athletics compete in NCAA Division III as the Auggies, and Lutheran chapel life remains part of campus rhythm, though participation is not mandatory and the student body includes many faiths.

Getting in

Augsburg's application process is holistic and access-oriented rather than formula-driven, with the university long known for working with students whose transcripts or test scores don't tell the whole story, including many first-generation applicants. Essays and personal background carry real weight in review.

After graduation

Graduates go heavily into education, social work, nursing, and other helping professions, often staying in the Twin Cities. The alumni network is close-knit and regionally concentrated, with strong ties into Minnesota's nonprofit and healthcare sectors.

Worth knowing

Augsburg is nationally known for StepUp, one of the country's oldest and largest collegiate recovery programs, supporting students recovering from substance addiction with sober housing and community. The university also has a long history of disability and accessibility services through its CLASS program.

augsburg.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate82%

Enrolled mid-50%1110

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying