Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.17
Liaison Chris Frantsvog
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Luther College
PA-7: Affordability and Access

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.13 / 4.00 Jan Cordell
Director
Financial Aid
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and programs to make it accessible and affordable to low-income students?:
Yes

A brief description of any policies and programs to minimize the cost of attendance for low-income students:

Luther offers Federal, State and Institutional grants, scholarships and loans to assist students who demonstrate financial need. Assistance for our lowest income students in the 2017-18 academic year averaged over $42,000 per student. Luther also encourages all students to apply regularly for outside scholarships. Over 51% of our incoming students brought outside scholarships with them last year averaging over $2,000 each.


A brief description of any programs to equip the institution’s faculty and staff to better serve students from low-income backgrounds:

Luther participates in the TRIO SSS Program and the Catalyze program to serve students from low-income areas. The workers from these programs work closely with staff to support these students.


A brief description of the institution’s programs to guide and prepare students and families from low-income backgrounds for higher education:

Luther College's TRIO program exists to help first-generation and income-eligible Luther students make the most of their college experience and reach their potential. The program positions and empowers participants to thrive at Luther College by providing holistic, individualized support and comprehensive programming that promotes their academic success, personal development, and sense of community. More info: https://www.luther.edu/trio/


A brief description of the institution's scholarships for low-income students:

TRIO participants may earn one-time TRIO Grants (usually equivalent to the minimum Pell Grant) and compete for scholarships available only to them. Seven TRIO-specific scholarships are awarded annually to participants. What TRIO really does is help ensure that the financial investment made in their education -- by the students, their families, the college, and the government -- pays off! (through their college completion and contribution to society)


A brief description of the institution’s targeted outreach to recruit students from low-income backgrounds:

Luther has several programs to attract first generation, low income students in Texas, California, Chicago, Minneapolis and other urban areas.


A brief description of the institution’s other policies or programs to make the institution accessible and affordable to low-income students:

Luther has developed programs with various organizations to jointly support students from low income families in Chicago, Minneapolis and the Coachella Valley in Southern California. We continue to develop joint support systems to help such students.


Does the institution have policies and programs to support non-traditional students?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s scholarships provided specifically for part-time students:

Luther has very few students who enroll part-time. We process part-time Pell and Iowa Tuition Grants and have internship scholarships to assist those enrolled part-time to do an internship.


A brief description of the institution’s on-site child care facility, partnership with a local facility, and/or subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of students:

We currently do not have these opportunities.


A brief description of the institution’s other policies and programs to support non-traditional students:

Luther assists veterans through the GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon and Tuition Assistance program, and Tuition Assistance Programs to help our non-traditional veterans.


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (tracking accessibility and affordability)? (If data is not available, select 'No'):
Yes

The percentage of entering students that are low-income (0-100):
22

The graduation/success rate for low-income students (0-100):
74

On average, the percentage of need that was met for students who were awarded any need-based aid (e.g. as reported to the U.S. Common Data Set initiative, item H2) (0-100):
92

The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt or for whom no out-of-pocket tuition is required (i.e. the percentage of graduates who have not taken out interest-bearing loans) (0-100):
25

Estimated percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students (0-100):
30

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.