How to get into Augustana College
How to get into Augustana: rolling admissions, predictable merit, and a small Illinois liberal arts college with strong pre-health programs
62.7%
Acceptance rate
$51,598
In-state cost
What makes Augustana College admissions different
Augustana College in Rock Island, IL (Quad Cities area on the Mississippi River), is a Lutheran-affiliated liberal arts college with around 2,500 students. Acceptance rate around 63%. Strong programs in pre-health (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy), business, and education. Augustana publishes a merit grid so applicants can estimate their award early. CORE (Augustana's general education curriculum) is integrated across all four years.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App or Augustana application. Rolling admissions — apply by December 1 for the strongest scholarship consideration.
- 2.
Submit the Augustana supplement if required.
- 3.
Augustana is test-optional. Submit SAT/ACT only if they strengthen your application.
- 4.
Apply for the President's Scholarship and other top competitive merit awards by the published deadline. Most institutional merit is awarded based on the admission application.
- 5.
Pre-health applicants: Augustana has strong placement rates for medical, dental, and pharmacy school. Engage with the pre-health advising structure.
- 6.
File the FAFSA. Illinois residents may qualify for the Illinois MAP Grant for private college students.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Confusing Augustana College (Illinois) with Augustana University (South Dakota). They are different institutions.
- ✕
Missing the December scholarship priority date.
- ✕
Skipping the Illinois MAP Grant if you're an Illinois resident at a private college.
- ✕
Treating Augustana's Lutheran heritage as a religious requirement. The college is open and pluralistic; the heritage shapes service and academic traditions.
The specifics for Augustana College
Application deadlines
- Priority ApplicationDecember 1, 2025Strongest scholarship consideration
- Rolling DecisionThrough spring 2026
What makes this admissions process distinctive
CORE curriculum
Augustana's general education curriculum integrated across all four years.
Pre-health placement
Strong placement rates for medical, dental, and pharmacy school. Dedicated pre-health advising structure.
Notable scholarships at Augustana College
President's Scholarship
Top competitive merit award.
Illinois MAP Grant (state-administered)
Illinois residents at private colleges. Need-based state aid.
What graduates actually do
Augustana College (Illinois) is a Lutheran liberal arts college in Rock Island, IL, in the Quad Cities region. Alumni cluster in Midwest healthcare, education, business, and Lutheran ministry, with strong placement into Chicago-area corporate roles for the school's size. Augustana is known for strong pre-medical, pre-law, and accounting outcomes, and the CORE program supports career development and graduate school placement.
Notable alumni
- Ken Anderson — NFL quarterback
- Bill Bradley — Former U.S. Senator (attended briefly)
- Roy Tarpley — NBA player
- Brent Sopel — NHL player
Transfer pathway
Augustana accepts transfers for fall and spring with rolling admissions. The college has articulation agreements with Black Hawk College (located in the Quad Cities) and other Illinois Community College System institutions. The Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) is honored. Up to 18 course credits transfer (Augustana is on a trimester system). Minimum 2.5 GPA. Transfer scholarships include the Phi Theta Kappa award.
Articulation partners
Black Hawk College · Scott Community College · Eastern Iowa Community Colleges · Carl Sandburg College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
Augustana College is a target for Midwestern applicants who want a small Lutheran liberal arts college with strong pre-health programs and predictable merit. Most applicants with a 3.2+ GPA are admitted. The financial decision depends on institutional merit plus federal/state aid.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.