Augustana College

College Search & Selection
1

Looking for some personal insight on Augustana College. My daughter is leaning that way and I don’t know much about it.

My daughter, 2019 graduate, is neck deep in her college search. She has visited numerous in state schools (Ohio) and has settled on liberal arts colleges. Her first choice of the schools close to home is the College of Wooster. I love it there too. I’m hoping Augustana can compete with it.

She wants to teach high school English. Augustana College (Rock Iskand, IL.) has been high on her list since the beginning and we are visiting next month. Augustana keeps getting better. Even for me. I’m ok with the 6 hour distance but I don’t teally know much, other than some articles and the school website, about the College. She wants to play softball and bowl and both coaches have reached out to her. The recruiting emails and mailings are very personal and have taken my daughter’s attention. They definitely seem organized and well run. The Education Department is top 50 for what that is worth and they receive mostly an A grade by those that do those rankings and such. Again, not sure what that’s worth.

They give money to visit, to those from out of state, and to those specifically from Ohio. A real human sent a merit aid estimate and this all adds up to 26k. Could be more if her ACT goes up. The school is a few grand less than Wooster as well. Not sure of Wooster merit aid yet though. She also wants to learn ASL. And Augustana College actually has a major in ASL. I assume that will help her in her teaching career. But either way it raises my daughter’s excitement about the school. Everything seems perfect.

As most of you have probably gone through with your kids, it’s great when you finally see that boost of excitement in your kids about a school. She has a 3.47/3.57 and all the AP/EC of an above average student. 2 Varsity Sports, etc. she has a 24 ACT and just took it again last week.

At any rate, I am finally excited that she is excited. But I don’t know much about the quality of the school, reputation, etc. I’m a little concerned that I have never heard of the place. Anyone from IL know any details about Augustana! I want to help her make the right decision.

Thanks

2

Augustana is a hidden gem - a really good school academically yet under the radar hence a bit easier to get into than it “should”.

If she likes Wooster, have her look I o Allegheny and Kalamazoo. Similar to Augustana, look into Luther or Gustavus Adolphus.

3

Perfect. Thanks!

4

We are also interested in Augustana. It has been difficult to find much information, but everything we have found is positive. One aspect we would like to learn more about is their Greek system. Their NPC is kind!

5

Augustana appears to be recognized for its beauty:

https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/the-25-most-beautiful-college-campuses-in-america

https://www.deseretnews.com/top/3086/0/The-35-most-beautiful-college-campuses-in-America.html

https://www.bestdegreeprograms.org/best-beautiful-small-college-campuses-america

6

Back in the last century, my BFF and I drove two hours to visit Augie in the dead of winter. Fun to see photos of it with no snow! My memories are of trooping around the snowy campus, and then driving back in the kind of near-blinding snowstorm that now makes me wonder what our moms were thinking of to let us get behind the wheel in that weather. Iowans to the bone I guess :slight_smile:

Plenty of interesting things for college kids to do in the Quad Cities, and a decent airport to fly in and out. Do go take a good look at Augie.

Two of my sibs and a bunch of friends graduated from Luther. Also very scenic, but harder to get to.

7

I think it sounds awesome that she is excited about a quality school that sounds like a great fit and is affordable, where she can also participate in some sports. And the College of Wooster is an excellent choice too. I just recommended it to my best friend for his kid who is an aspiring collegiate athlete. Good luck, hope one of those works out!

8

I went to grad school with a guy from Augie (as he called it). He also played on their D3 champion football team. One of the smartest guys I knew and he got a PhD in nuclear physics.