Skip to content

Augustana University scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$53,522per year · 2026-2027 · cost of attendance
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

Augustana University awards automatic merit on admission. Augustana University does not publish a GPA or test chart, so you cannot self-calculate the dollars.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jun 2026
4 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. Academic Scholarship$21,000-$28,000 Per YearAutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Academic Scholarship

    $21,000-$28,000 Per Year

    Published rangeAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Based on GPA or SAT/ACT test score (specific tier cutoffs not published on the page)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Academic Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    First-year and continuing students; considered automatically by applying for undergraduate admission

    How to keep it

    Renewable; students must be full time and in good academic standing to maintain these scholarships. A specific renewal GPA is not published on the page.

    Worth knowing

    Augustana's primary automatic merit award. The page states scholarships are 'based on your GPA or SAT/ACT test score' and that 'being considered for these scholarships is as easy as applying for undergraduate admission,' but it does NOT publish the GPA/test-to-dollar grid. The exact tier you land in is not determinable from official pages.

  2. Transfer Scholarship$21,000-$26,000 Per YearAutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Transfer Scholarship

    $21,000-$26,000 Per Year

    Published rangeAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Based on prior college coursework (specific cutoffs not published)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Transfer Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Students who transfer to Augustana from another institution after one full semester of coursework

    How to keep it

    Renewable; students must be full time and in good academic standing to maintain these scholarships.

    Worth knowing

    The transfer-student equivalent of the Academic Scholarship; considered automatically by applying for admission.

  3. Pro Musica Music Scholarship$8,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Pro Musica Music Scholarship

    $8,000 per year

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Pro Musica Music Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Awarded by audition; music ability/talent

    How to keep it

    Renewable. An additional $1,000 per year is available to scholarship recipients who participate in marching band.

    Worth knowing

    Augustana's top music talent award; stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship. Application/audition deadline Feb. 1.

  4. Studio Music ScholarshipUp to $5,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Studio Music Scholarship

    Up to $5,000 per year

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Studio Music Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Awarded by audition; private-lesson / studio music students

    How to keep it

    Renewable. An additional $1,000 per year is available to recipients who participate in marching band.

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship.

  5. Music Honors Scholarship$3,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Music Honors Scholarship

    $3,000 per year

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Music Honors Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Awarded by audition; music ability/talent

    How to keep it

    Renewable. An additional $1,000 per year is available to recipients who participate in marching band.

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship.

  6. Viking Marching Band Scholarship$3,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Viking Marching Band Scholarship

    $3,000 per year

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Viking Marching Band Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Participation in the Viking Marching Band

    How to keep it

    Renewable.

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship. Distinct from the +$1,000 marching-band add-on attached to the other music awards.

  7. Music Ensemble Scholarship$1,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Music Ensemble Scholarship

    $1,000 per year

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Music Ensemble Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Participation in a music ensemble

    How to keep it

    Renewable. An additional $1,000 per year is available to recipients who participate in marching band.

    Worth knowing

    Entry-level music talent award; stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship.

  8. Pro Dramatis Theatre ScholarshipUp to $3,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Pro Dramatis Theatre Scholarship

    Up to $3,000 per year

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Pro Dramatis Theatre Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Based on performance/potential; must be accepted by March

    How to keep it

    Renewable.

    Worth knowing

    Theatre talent award; stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship. Deadline March 1.

  9. Pro Artis Visual Art ScholarshipUp to $3,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Pro Artis Visual Art Scholarship

    Up to $3,000 per year

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Pro Artis Visual Art Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Based on talent/potential via portfolio review

    How to keep it

    Renewable.

    Worth knowing

    Visual-art talent award; stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship. Deadline March 1.

  10. Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship$2,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

    $2,000 per year

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Incoming transfer students who are Phi Theta Kappa members

    How to keep it

    Renewable.

    Worth knowing

    For incoming transfers; stacks on top of the Transfer Scholarship.

  11. YT Johnson Science Scholarship$1,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    YT Johnson Science Scholarship

    $1,000 per year

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    3.7 GPA (or 27 ACT)
    ACT
    27
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for YT Johnson Science Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Science majors

    How to keep it

    Renewable.

    Worth knowing

    Awarded to science majors with a 27 ACT or 3.7 GPA; stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship.

  12. Fryxell Humanities Scholarship$1,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Fryxell Humanities Scholarship

    $1,000 per year

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Fryxell Humanities Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Freshmen in humanities; preference for English/journalism

    How to keep it

    Renewable.

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship.

  13. Alumni Legacy Award$1,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Alumni Legacy Award

    $1,000 per year

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Alumni Legacy Award

    Who qualifies

    Students whose parent, grandparent, sibling, or spouse earned a degree from Augustana

    How to keep it

    Renewable.

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship.

  14. Family Tuition Grant$1,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Family Tuition Grant

    $1,000 per year

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Family Tuition Grant

    Who qualifies

    Full-time students with an immediate family member enrolled full time

    How to keep it

    Renewable while an immediate family member is enrolled full time.

    Worth knowing

    Contingent on a family member's concurrent full-time enrollment; stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship.

  15. Camp Counselor Scholarship$500 per year of serviceNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Camp Counselor Scholarship

    $500 per year of service

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Camp Counselor Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Continuing students serving as camp counselors at Lutheran camps for 6+ weeks

    How to keep it

    Awarded per qualifying year of service.

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of the Academic Scholarship.

  16. PACT Grant (Parish and College Together)Up to $500Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    PACT Grant (Parish and College Together)

    Up to $500

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for PACT Grant (Parish and College Together)

    Who qualifies

    Full-time students receiving a church scholarship; submit the PACT Form

    How to keep it

    Matching grant; renewal terms not stated on the page.

    Worth knowing

    Matches a qualifying church/parish scholarship up to $500; there is no deadline for PACT Form submission.

Lights up against Augustana University's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office. Award terms and residency rules change; some awards differ for in-state and out-of-state students. Always confirm at the school’s source page.

Free Merit Check

Check the rules that could cut this.

The free Merit Check shows which Augustana University award your student's numbers reach, and the rules that could change it. About 30 seconds.

Checking merit aid at Augustana University

We’ll email you this result and a few short merit-aid pointers. We store score ranges only, never your student’s name. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy.

This page covers one school.

Your playbook does this for every school on your list, sorted by what you’d pay.

Ready in under 10 minutes. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get my playbook$79
  • Secure payment through Stripe
  • “it told me what to ask and what the renewal GPA looked like, which I was not going to find on my own”Melissa

The fine print

Renewal ruleAcademic Scholarship: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

Renewable; students must be full time and in good academic standing to maintain these scholarships. A specific renewal GPA is not published on the page. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

Aid capHard $53,522 cost-of-attendance ceiling

Institutional aid at Augustana University cannot push the package past $53,522. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.

What makes Augustana University different

Every admitted Augustana student is considered for a renewable Academic Scholarship of $21,000-$28,000 per year simply by applying for admission, and talent awards (music, theatre, art, science) plus legacy and family grants stack on top.

Merit tiers162 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJun 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Augustana University's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

What families often miss

  1. Augustana publishes only the range ($21,000-$28,000/yr) and says the award is 'based on your GPA or SAT/ACT test score,' but it does NOT publish the tier cutoffs. You won't know your exact tier until you receive your award letter — ask admissions for an estimate or use the Net Price Calculator.

  2. Talent awards have separate, earlier deadlines: Pro Musica music is Feb. 1, and Pro Dramatis (theatre) and Pro Artis (visual art) are both March 1. These require an audition or portfolio review, not just admission.

  3. Music awards (Ensemble, Honors, Pro Musica, Studio) each add only +$1,000/yr IF the recipient participates in marching band. The standalone Viking Marching Band Scholarship ($3,000/yr) is a separate award.

  4. $53,522 is tuition + fees + housing (double) + meal plan for 2026-27. Indirect costs — books (~$1,000), transportation (~$2,374), personal expenses (~$4,316), and loan fees (~$72) — add roughly $7,762 more that isn't billed to your account.

  5. It won't. Augustana explicitly stacks outside scholarships on top of its own scholarships. The only reduction risk is to federal self-help (subsidized loans, work-study) and AU need-based grants if your total aid would exceed the cost of attendance.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Students who want a large, automatic, GPA/test-based merit floor at a Lutheran (ELCA) liberal-arts university in Sioux Falls, plus talented musicians, theatre/art students, and science majors who can layer renewable talent awards on top of their academic scholarship.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $53,522 for 2026-2027. Source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Augustana University, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Augustana University, academic year 2021-22
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$18,746
$30,001–$48,000$18,895
$48,001–$75,000$17,937
$75,001–$110,000$24,787
$110,001+$27,327
All income levels (average)$23,894

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$40,160
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$23,894

That works out to roughly a 57% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $55,159 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
73%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
86%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$25,000 (~$265/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$59,217
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
22%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
55%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

Augustana explicitly STACKS outside (private) scholarships on top of Augustana scholarships — it will not reduce its own scholarships because a student won outside awards. The only caveat is for students who file the FAFSA and accept federal aid: total aid must stay within the cost of attendance, so outside awards can reduce federal subsidized loans, work-study, and AU need-based grants. Internal named talent/legacy awards also stack on the Academic Scholarship.

Pure merit + outside awards stack against Augustana scholarships with no displacement. For students with federal aid, the COA cap is the only constraint, and AU notes outside scholarships could reduce subsidized loans, work-study, and AU grants (self-help / need-based aid is reduced first, institutional merit scholarships are not).

Source

Other Augustana University scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

AmountAmount VariesEligibilityHigh school graduates, based on financial need; must file the FAFSA.

NEED-BASED institutional grant (not merit). Renewable.

Source

AmountAmount VariesEligibilityInternational students, based on academic credentials and country of citizenship.

Renewable. For international applicants.

Source

Augustana University merit aid FAQ

  • Is the Academic Scholarship automatic?

    Effectively yes. The page says 'being considered for these scholarships is as easy as applying for undergraduate admission,' and the award is based on your GPA or SAT/ACT score. The exact dollar tier within the $21,000-$28,000/yr range is set by your stats but the cutoff grid is not published, so confirm your amount in your award letter.

  • Do outside (private) scholarships reduce my Augustana scholarship?

    No. 'Outside scholarships are stackable with Augustana Scholarships' — AU will not reduce its own scholarships because you won outside awards. If you accept federal aid, total aid must stay within the cost of attendance, so outside awards could reduce federal subsidized loans, work-study, or AU need-based grants.

  • What are the talent-award deadlines?

    Pro Musica music auditions are due Feb. 1. Theatre (Pro Dramatis) and visual art (Pro Artis) are both due March 1 and require an audition or portfolio review.

  • Are the scholarships renewable?

    Yes. Augustana scholarships are renewable provided students 'maintain full-time status and good academic standing.' A specific renewal GPA is not published — ask the Office of Financial Aid (605.274.5216) for the exact threshold.

See sources and other schools

How Augustana University compares

  • 235 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.

    Augustana University is in a recognizable cluster (235 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Augustana University is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Augustana University’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

Keep exploring Augustana University merit aid

The next chapter

Where does Augustana University fit in your plan?

You have the school’s rules. Now put them in the context of your student and the rest of your list.

  1. Check your student’s numbers, free
  2. Explore another school
  3. See how the research becomes a plan

Ready to work through your whole list? Get my playbook

Inside the sample

Jordan’s playbook

Same student.
Four schools.
Four very different bills.

An illustrative student profile, with a school order, scholarship research and a to-do list. Open the sample to see how it works.

Open the sample playbook