Augustana College: Courses, Admission, Cost

Students have mixed reviews about Augustana College. The students appreciate the beautiful campus, which is a blend of historic and modern buildings that create an inspiring learning environment. Students like the fact that the small class sizes allow for personalized attention and the professors are genuinely invested in student success. Reviews also noted that Augustana offers extracurricular activities for students to get involved in, such as sports, the arts, and volunteer work. The liberal arts curriculum is valued for its richness and breadth since it promotes intellectual inquiry and critical thinking.

Negative reviews mention that the food options are terrible, and there is absolutely nothing open on campus on the weekends. Students mention that the freshman dorms are very old and renovation does not takes place. A few students find the college very cliquey and feel too much like high school.

Getting on-campus part-time jobs while studying at Augustana College is manageable. International students can work a maximum of 20 hours a week. Student employment positions are separated into two pay rates: $10 or $11.25 per hour based on the scope of the position. But to be eligible for on-campus employment, students have to get a Social Security card. Students have to submit the necessary documents and wait for the authorization. Students can find on-campus jobs on an online platform named Handshake. 

Students can also do off-campus jobs. Types of part-time jobs available for students are tutoring, internships, retail positions, food service, babysitting, etc. They can earn between $15 and $20. Students have to manage their time and studies accordingly while working off campus. 

Augustana College was ranked No. 100 among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report in 2024. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It also has course specific accreditations like the Augustana College Department of Chemistry is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the MS Education program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Augustana's degrees are respected and acknowledged by companies and universities around the globe. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services at the college assists and empowers students to settle in the new environment effortlessly. The Augie Choice program provides each student with $2,000 to fund internships, research projects, or study abroad experiences. Financial support like this attracts International students.

Augustana College is a private liberal arts institution situated in Rock Island, Illinois. In U.S. News & World Report's 2024 ranking of the top national liberal arts institutions, it came in at number one. It also maintains prominent rankings in other categories, including No. 36 for Best Undergraduate Teaching and No. 67 for Best Value Schools. Being a part of the esteemed Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society since 1950 is evidence of Augustana College's dedication to liberal arts education. The popular courses at Augustana College are Business Administration, Biology, Psychology and Communication Studies. Some of the notable alumni are Dave Allen (American actor), Don Sundquist (American businessman and politician), and Proco Joe Moreno (American Politician). 

Staying on campus is better for students. The cost of housing at Augustana College ranges between $6,000-$10,000 and the meal plans cost between $3,000-$6,000 per academic year. Students who live on campus will always have access to university resources. The goal of residence life is to create an intellectually engaging environment for students while equipping them with vital life skills that will further their personal and professional development.

Augustana College has teamed up with Places4Students.com, an organization that gives seniors and graduate students information on off-campus living options. Off-campus housing has perks like having more independence than on-campus housing, and they can budget accordingly. Rental pricing for bedroom apartments in Rock Island ranges from $800 to $2,500. The off-housing rents are higher as compared to the on campus housing.