Loras College
Dubuque, IA 52004-0178
About Loras College
Loras College is a private research university in Dubuque, Iowa, enrolling about 1,083 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 99.86% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $58,289 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Loras College charges 36% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($39,824).
- Versus the Iowa median, sticker tuition is about 2.0×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 67.60%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $58,289.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Loras College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 603% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loras College | $39,824 | $20,716 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Iowa (state median) | $20,270 | $11,272 | 49 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 48% below published tuition at Loras College
Key findings
- Loras College's average net price ($20,716) is 48% below published tuition ($39,824).
- Loras College charges 36% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($39,824).
- Versus the Iowa median, sticker tuition is about 2.0×.
Loras College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $39,824
Finding Loras College charges 36% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $39,824. That is 36% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Iowa median ($20,270), sticker tuition is about 2.0×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.3×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Loras College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Loras College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Loras College is $20,716.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $20,716 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $9,444 above the Iowa median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $5,745 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Loras College’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 48% lower after grants and scholarships.
Loras College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Loras College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$39,824
Avg. net price
$20,716
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $20,479 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,033 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,624 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $20,233 |
| $110,001+ | $23,039 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $159,296. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Loras College is known for
Top program completions
- Psychology, General31
- Business Administration and Management, General24
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology23
- Social Work20
- Finance, General19
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 17% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Loras College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Loras College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Loras College.
Campus
Location
Dubuque, IA
City / state
- ZIP
- 52004-0178
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 38% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Size
Enrollment
1,083
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,227
- Graduate
- 66
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$26,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 23.36%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Loras College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Loras College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Loras College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $28,852 | $28,852 | $19,175 |
| 2014 | $29,700 | $29,700 | $19,159 |
| 2015 | $30,628 | $30,628 | $18,325 |
| 2016 | $31,525 | $31,525 | $17,540 |
| 2017 | $32,886 | $32,886 | $18,800 |
| 2018 | $34,184 | $34,184 | $18,940 |
| 2019 | $35,218 | $35,218 | $20,676 |
| 2020 | $35,218 | $35,218 | $21,629 |
| 2021 | $35,268 | $35,268 | $19,091 |
| 2022 | $36,570 | $36,570 | $21,343 |
| 2023 | $38,298 | $38,298 | $21,057 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Loras College reported total enrollment of about 1,083 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 59% male and 41% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (74.5%), Hispanic or Latino (8.2%), and Non-Resident Alien (5.5%). About 23.36% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 17.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Loras College in 2024 is 1,083 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,227 students. Graduate enrollment is about 66 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
43.85% 100% Completion Time
67.60% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 43.85% of students graduating from Loras College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, General: 32% male / 68% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 83% male / 17% female
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 52% male / 48% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Loras College graduates earn a median of $58,289 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Loras College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $58,289. Median federal loan debt: $26,000. Average net price used in cost models: $20,716.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Loras College graduates report median earnings of $58,289 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Loras College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (41 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Loras College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Loras College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Loras College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$52.5M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Iowa median 1.4× the median ($36.3M)
- Plains median 2.2× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 2.0× the median ($26.4M)
- Iowa median 1.5× the median ($28,406)
- Plains median 2.8× the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 3.4× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 74.0%
- Iowa median 13.6 pp below median (87.6%)
- Plains median 9.3 pp above median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 16.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,039
- Iowa median near the median ($7,039)
- Plains median near the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median 0.92× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,934
- Iowa median 1.1× the median ($8,352)
- Plains median 1.1× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Loras College at a glance
Loras College
Loras College is a private non-profit institution in Dubuque, IA, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Psychology, GeneralBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralExercise Science and Kinesiology
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian74.5%Hispanic or Latino8.2%Non-Resident Alien5.5%
Schools near Loras College
Other campuses in Dubuque, IA when available, plus nearby institutions in Iowa.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Iowa, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Loras College located?
Loras College is located in Dubuque, IA.
What is Loras College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Loras College is 99.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,652 applicants and 1,517 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Loras College's tuition?
Loras College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $39,824 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $20,716 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Loras College cost?
Reported tuition is $39,824 and average net price is $20,716 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,000 annually.
Why is Loras College's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Loras College, published tuition is $39,824 while average net price is $20,716—about 48% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Loras College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($20,716), completion (67.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($58,289). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Loras College?
Loras College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,227 students, White (74.5%), Hispanic or Latino (8.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Loras College?
About 17.3% of students at Loras College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Loras College earn?
Median earnings are $46,069 six years after entry and $58,289 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Loras College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 67.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Loras College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,000.
Is Loras College public or private?
Loras College is a private nonprofit institution located in Dubuque, IA.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.