Wartburg College

Private · Moderately Selective · IA

Photo: Jon Roanhaus (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationIA · Midwest

SettingRural

Undergrads1,452

Student:faculty13:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate45.4%

6-yr grad rate64.3%

Drop-out rate24.3%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$26k

Out-of-state tuition$26k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity19.4%

Gender diversity44.6%

International5.2%

IdentityEvangelical Lutheran Church

Overview

Wartburg College is a private liberal arts college in Waverly, Iowa, affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and named for the German castle where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German while in hiding. The college has built its identity around a "Be Orange" culture of school spirit, leadership, and service that shows up across campus life, not just athletics.

Academics

Wartburg is best known for music — its choirs, including the Wartburg Choir, have toured internationally and carry the college's name well beyond Iowa — alongside strong programs in biology, business, and journalism/communication. The curriculum reflects a traditional liberal arts core with an emphasis on leadership development threaded through majors.

Campus & student life

The Waverly campus has a close residential community feel typical of a small Iowa liberal arts college, with a strong tradition of student involvement in music ensembles, service projects, and Division III athletics under the Knights name. Religious life connected to the college's Lutheran heritage is present but not compulsory in the way it is at more conservative evangelical colleges.

Worth knowing

Wartburg's choral music tradition is genuinely distinctive — the touring choirs are a serious point of institutional pride and a meaningful draw for musically serious students. The "Be Orange" branding describes an actual campus-wide leadership and service program woven into student life, not just marketing.

wartburg.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate75.8%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 930–1200 · ACT 21–27

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying