2027 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church

Home
College Rankings
Hidden Gems
Religious Affiliation
Evangelical Lutheran Church

About

College Raptor’s Hidden Gem rankings highlight under-the-radar colleges that may not be household names, but they're bringing serious academic heat. Hidden Gems are based on College Raptor’s overall national rankings and must meet the following criteria:

Receive fewer than 10,000 applications per year.
Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students.
Offer 5 or more unique majors
Have a 20% acceptance rate or higher.
Rank within the top half of College Raptor’s overall rankings.

For more information on methodology behind our college rankings, check out our ranking methodology breakdown.

Sort by:

View as:

Rank	Institution	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	St Olaf College	43.38	1,310 – 1,440	26756	48373	#1 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church St Olaf College Northfield, MN Founded by Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, St. Olaf has actually been visited by King Olav and King Harald V. Their mascot is St. Olaf Lion and the school’s athletes are known as the Oles. With 44 majors offered, the most popular area of study is Biology/Biological Sciences, General. Acceptance Rate 43.4% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $26,756 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,373
2	Muhlenberg College	71.99	1,280 – 1,430	34739	53265	#2 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA In addition to an 82-acre campus, Muhlenberg College also maintains nearby 60-acre Graver Arboretum and 40-acre Raker Wildlife Preserve. Most of their programs focus on liberal arts and pre-professional education – Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General is a popular area of study....Read more Acceptance Rate 72.0% SAT Score 1,280 – 1,430 Avg. Net Price $34,739 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,265
3	Susquehanna University	79.08	1,090 – 1,310	26444	51535	#3 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, PA Based in Selinsgrove, Susquehanna University accepts 79% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 97% of students attending Susquehanna University currently receive institutional grant aid. On average, these students receive $45,185 each. The first year retention rate is 87%....Read more Acceptance Rate 79.1% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $26,444 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,535
4	Gustavus Adolphus College	60.99	1,180 – 1,370	26094	51546	#4 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, MN Biology/Biological Sciences, General is the most popular major at Gustavus Adolphus College. A fairly selective school, it received 5,290 applications during the last admissions cycle and accepted 3,230 of them. The college has an 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 88% first year retention rate. Acceptance Rate 61.0% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $26,094 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,546
5	California Lutheran University	76.31	1,110 – 1,330	32774	54981	#5 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA Located in Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University’s acceptance rate is 76% and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $30 for graduate applications. About 99% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 76.3% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $32,774 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,981
6	Augustana College	66.28	1,030 – 1,290	24714	49849	#6 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Augustana College Rock Island, IL Found in Rock Island, Augustana College accepted 66% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students at Augustana College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s......Read more Acceptance Rate 66.3% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $24,714 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,849
7	Luther College	83.98	1,100 – 1,370	24511	49541	#7 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Luther College Decorah, IA Luther College started as a Lutheran seminary opened by Norwegian immigrants. The upper campus is on the National Register of Historic Places, while the Upper Iowa River flows through the lower campus. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse is a popular area of study, and the school has a first year retention rate of 77%. Acceptance Rate 84.0% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $24,511 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,541
8	Roanoke College	83.06	1,110 – 1,320	26044	45330	#8 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Roanoke College Salem, VA Found in Salem, Roanoke College accepted 83% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students attending Roanoke College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s first year......Read more Acceptance Rate 83.1% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $26,044 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,330
9	Concordia College at Moorhead	62.65	1,080 – 1,240	25190	48225	#9 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, MN Concordia College at Moorhead has an 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 84% first year retention rate. It’s home to a robust music program with several choirs, bands, and orchestras. Students are known as the Cobbers and compete in the NCAA Division III with football Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Acceptance Rate 62.7% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $25,190 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,225
10	Pacific Lutheran University	86.6	1,050 – 1,270	22299	52212	#10 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA Pacific Lutheran University’s motto is “Education for Lives of Thoughtful Inquiry, Service, Leadership, and Care.” Many students study Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business Administration and Management, and General. The school opened in 1894, where tuition was $1 per week....Read more Acceptance Rate 86.6% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $22,299 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,212
11	Augustana University	72.89	1,090 – 1,290	24977	49826	#11 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD At Augustana University, navy blue and gold are the official colors of the Vikings, who compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, and Physical Therapy/Therapist are the most popular majors on campus, and the school has a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio....Read more Acceptance Rate 72.9% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $24,977 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,826
12	Wartburg College	75.84	1,070 – 1,280	24031	48795	#12 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Wartburg College Waverly, IA Business/Commerce, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Kinesiology and Exercise Science are popular majors at Wartburg College, whose motto is “Experience more.” The school was founded in 1852, and it moved several times between Illinois and Iowa....Read more Acceptance Rate 75.8% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $24,031 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,795
13	Capital University	65.01	920 – 1,170	22395	45767	#13 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Capital University Columbus, OH Found in Columbus, Capital University accepts 65% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 99% of students attending Capital University will receive institutional grant aid. At Capital University, there is a 73% first year retention rate and around 50% of students will graduate......Read more Acceptance Rate 65.0% SAT Score 920 – 1,170 Avg. Net Price $22,395 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,767
14	Wittenberg University	80.46	1,080 – 1,290	23537	42437	#14 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Evangelical Lutheran Church Wittenberg University Springfield, OH Found in Springfield, Wittenberg University’s acceptance rate is 80% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students attending Wittenberg University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more Acceptance Rate 80.5% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $23,537 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,437