Your Visit to Luther College: A Comprehensive Guide

Planning a visit to Luther College? This guide provides essential information to help you make the most of your experience, whether you're a prospective student, a family member, or a fan attending an athletic event. Luther College offers a unique environment for prospective students. Discover all that Luther College and the surrounding community of Decorah have to offer.

Personalized Visit Experiences

Luther College understands that every visitor has unique interests. That's why they offer personalized visit experiences tailored to your specific needs and preferences. Ready to explore? Tell us what draws you to Luther, and we’ll make sure your visit reflects those interests. Your visit should be as unique as you are. Your personalized Luther experience starts here.

Looking for a custom visit experience? Start here. Ready to visit? Choose your date from the calendar in the visit portal and let us know what aspects of Luther life you’d like to explore.

Options to Enhance Your Visit

All visits include a campus tour, admissions and scholarship info, and lunch. Want more? Add a classroom visit, faculty meeting, audition, coach meeting, and more - even an overnight stay! We can dive deeper, too. Classroom visits, one-on-one faculty meetings, auditions, coach conversations, or even overnight stays are all options.

Visit Opportunities

Blue and White Visits

Our Blue and White visits are small-group events where you'll join other visitors for an introduction to Luther College. These small group events offer two arrival times for your convenience. Add a full campus tour, student panel, Q&A session with an Admissions rep, and a complimentary lunch, and you have a perfect Saturday on campus.

A Blue and White visit includes:

A campus tour, led by a student ambassador
An admissions and scholarship info session
Complimentary lunch in our cafeteria
Optional activities
- Prospective student-athletes: coach meetings may be available upon request.
- Meetings with Disability Services may be available upon request.

Admitted Student Celebration Event

Apr. Luther's admitted student celebration event. As an admitted student, you’ll attend your choice of faculty-led sessions to see first-hand what our students experience every day. It’s also a day to celebrate what you’ve already achieved.

Group Visits

We’d love to host a group visit from your high school or organization! That’s just the beginning. We’ll customize a visit to feature what your students need. Options include campus tours, info sessions on scholarships and admissions, student ambassador panels, and more.

Luther College Representatives on the Road

Luther College representatives are hitting the road to discuss admission applications, financial aid opportunities, and college life expectations with prospective students.

Virtual Exploration

Have a special interest in visual or performing arts? The sciences? Explore Luther from anywhere!

Read also: Learn about Luther Rice University

The Luther College Campus Visit Award

There are many ways to measure what a campus visit is worth - personal connections, a sense of place, a vision of the path ahead. We’ve added one more: The Luther College Campus Visit Award, a renewable $1,000 scholarship for prospective students who attend an eligible visit prior to enrolling.

What to Expect from the Luther Experience

Luther College offers a transformative experience, preparing students for leadership in their careers and communities.

Academics and Faculty

Luther College encourages us to 'seek wisdom in community' by facilitating conversation and creating lasting relationships that extend beyond the walls of the classroom. Accordingly, "class sizes are great" for discussion, and the "intelligent and personable" professors at Luther "are always available and eager to hear your interests or concerns." "They are always a great resource, even for conversation outside of the course," says a student.

The school also has a Writing Center and Student Academic Support Center, where students can go and find help when they are struggling academically. "Energy is also found in the college administration"; administrators are visible throughout campus and during school events, and they do "a great job of providing many opportunities for students outside academics." "If I'm studying and the president walks by, he will often stop to ask how I'm doing and what I am studying," says a sophomore.

I would recommend Luther because teachers make meaningful connections with students. A lot of my teachers have spent countless hours helping me outside of their own schedules. The small size of the college has allowed me to create meaningful connections with a lot of members of our campus community, and it truly feels like home. At Luther College, the relationships you make really matter.

The Luther Promise

The Luther Promise, which includes a four-year graduation guarantee and an investment of $120,000 in scholarship assistance over a student’s career, is made up of four institutional commitments.

“We know the transformative value of a four-year degree, but also the importance of completing in four years,” said Matt Beatty, vice president for enrollment management at Luther College. “Families are asking hard questions about return on investment - both the dollars invested and the time to earn a college degree. At Luther, finishing on time is no longer a talking point. It’s a promise. The second commitment in the Luther Promise is an affordable high-value degree.

“Affordability is more than just the bottom line - it’s about honoring the family’s investment of time and money,” Beatty said. “It’s also about doing what’s best for each individual student. Experiential learning opportunities and career preparedness are the two other components of the Luther Promise.

“At Luther, learning isn’t limited to the classroom. Full-time first-year college students entering Luther in the fall of 2026 will be eligible for the Luther Promise.

Student Life and Community

Luther’s community has been one of the most defining parts of my college experience. The support I’ve received from friends and professors has helped me grow both academically and personally. I’ve been given a lot of opportunities by the Luther athletics department. Through my internships, I learned how flexible my major is. I can go into a medical field, learn the basics, and apply everything that I know about computer science there. The next day, I can go into a sales team and do the same. "The strong sense of community that everyone talks about really does exist here," says a student.

Luther College "pays very much attention to the social life at Luther," and the art and music scene around town "is fantastic. There are many workshops and classes, in addition to live local music performances and poetry slams." "There is never a dull moment," and on any given day, students can "throw a Frisbee around on Library Lawn, try flying kites, or play nine square (which started as four square)." Everyone enjoys being outdoors, and "going hiking, biking, and canoeing on the Upper Iowa River," and "cross country skiing, caf tray sledding, and ice skating" are all popular pursuits throughout the seasons. "There is somewhat of a party scene at Luther," but "no more than at any other institution." For the drinking set, besides parties, "There are about two bars that most students go to." But there is plenty to do for the non-drinking set. Students credit the Student Activities Council with providing many entertainment options (and also giving the opportunity to create their own activities). There are a wide variety of options, and everything "is well done so you can't go wrong in your choice of which to attend.

Student Body

At Luther, "the typical student is white, Midwestern," and many are Lutheran. He or she is "middle-class," of "Scandinavian" descent, "generally friendly and courteous," "laid-back, easy-going," and "active, engaged, [and] excited about learning." "Everyone dresses pretty casually, and the blond and tan Barbie type is not very prominent." Many of this "Norwegian-sweater-wearing" crew hails from the suburbs of the Twin Cities and from all over Iowa, and there is an "increasing number [of] international students each year," which make up a large portion of the minority population.

The Value of a Luther Education

Through my Luther classes, papers, and speeches, I was able to foster my communication and interpersonal skills. My experiences at Luther have provided me with the most valuable memories and opportunities I could ever ask for. Luther gave me the framework to succeed, challenging me to consider new perspectives and grow in community with driven and diverse peers. My Luther degree represents the hard work and cultivation that prepared me to go out and leave every place better than I found it.

Visiting Luther College for Athletic Events

This site provides you directions to campus, phone numbers of staff, lodging/restaurant guide, and specific information regarding each sport. We look forward to hosting you and we hope your visit is enjoyable.

General Admission Information

Admission to volleyball, football, basketball and wrestling are $6.00/adult; $3.00 students. This includes pregame, halftime, and postgame performances or public address announcements.

Tailgating Policy

Luther College values its students, employees, alumni, guests of the college and is committed to maintaining a healthy environment, providing safe experiences, and ensuring an environment free from alcohol abuse and illegal chemical use.

Tailgate hours will be strictly enforced beginning three hours prior to game time and be open up until the start of the contest. Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited during the game and all spectators will be asked to enter the venue at the start of the contest or leave the area.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages during tailgating will only be permitted for athletic events in which a designated tailgate area is assigned.
Alcoholic beverages must be consumed in the designated areas only.
Under no circumstances shall persons under the age of 21 have possession or consume alcohol.
Driving under the influence is illegal in the state of Iowa.
Beer kegs, party balls and glass bottles are prohibited.
Individuals will be responsible for keeping the area clean. Please recycle.
Gas/propane & charcoal grills are permitted.
This policy will be enforced by Luther security officers and athletics staff.

Specific Athletic Venues

Baseball: The baseball field is located west of the Regents Center. Visiting teams will use the third base side dugouts. The new baseball stadium has stadium seating, but fans are welcome to bring their lawn chairs and sit along the fence line on the third base side of the field. Parking is available in the Regents Center lot.
Basketball: Games are played in the Regents Center gym. Admission entrances are located on both the north and south ends of the Regents Center. The visitor bench is located on the north end of the playing floor with the visitors section located directly behind the visiting bench area. Parking is available in the Regents Center lot.
Cross Country: The Luther College cross country course is located on the lower campus with the start and finish area located north of the soccer field.
Football: Games are played on Legacy field in Carlson Stadium located south of the Regents Center. The visitor bench is located on the west sideline of the football field. Visitor stands are located behind the visitor bench. Parking is available in the Regents Center lot.
Softball: The softball field is located east of the north parking lot. The visiting team dugout is located on the third base side. The new stadium has stadium seating, but fans are welcome to bring their lawn chairs and sit along the fence line on the first and third base sides of the field.
Soccer: The soccer field has lights and is located north of the north parking lot. Bleachers for spectators are located on the east side of the field. The home and visiting team bench areas are located on the west side of the field. Parking is available in the Regents Center lot.
Swimming & Diving: The eight-lane swimming and diving pool is located in the Regents Center. Parking is available in the Regents Center lot. Entrances to the pool venue are located on both the north and south ends of the Regents Center. From the north entrance, the pool is located to the left through the concession stand area, up one flight of stairs and follow the hallway to the spectator entrances. From the south entrance, the pool is located to the right through the lobby of the Regents Center, up one flight of stairs and follow the hallway to the spectator entrances.
Tennis: The newly renovated outdoor tennis courts are located next to Carlson Stadium. Spectator bleachers are provided on the north end of the courts. The 6 indoor courts are located in the Sports and Recreation Center attached to the Regents Center. Spectator seating is available on the walkway above the venue.
Track and Field: Outdoor Track meets take place in Carlson Stadium. All field events except for the javelin take place next to Carlson Stadium. The javelin venue is located next to the south end of the baseball field. Indoor track meets take place in the Sports and Recreation Center attached to the Regents Center. Spectator seating is available on the walkway above the venue. Parking is available in the Regents Center lot.
Wrestling: Competitions are contested in the Regents Center gym. Venue entrances are located on both the north and south ends of the Regents Center. Parking is available in the Regents Center lot.

Campus Environment

Luther is a tobacco free campus.

Life in Decorah

Going to Luther is synonymous with living in beautiful Decorah. Your professors live here, and so do 1,000+ alumni. Decorah is a hidden gem that lies in the Driftless Region. It’s a beautiful environment of rolling hills, sandstone bluffs, waterfalls, and spring-fed creeks. And the community of Decorah is just as unique and inviting as the landscape. Life in the valley is amazing, on campus and beyond.

Buy local and organic food and sustainably produced goods at Decorah's Oneota Community Food Coop.

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