Augustana College — Attraction in Rock Island

I am a graduate of the Class of 2025. Here’s my experience and observations over the last four years as a student. (Posting this on a burner email)

Financials - As an incoming student I received an appealing financial aid package from Augustana. This enticed me to attend the school over some competitors. Over my four years, tuition and room and board was increased three times (3.5% 2022-2023, 3.85% 2023-2024, 3.38% 2024-2025). I felt this was a bait-and-switch as the scholarships I received in later years did not keep pace with my original financial aid package. I was paying more out of pocket my senior year compared to my freshman year. In addition, any private student loans taken out are a fixed 6.5% rate. I encourage anyone that does attend Augustana to reach out to the financial aid office each year when you receive your new financial aid package and ask for more aid (I was given more aid when I asked).

Education - My overall education experience was good. I learned about many different topics I had not considered before I attended college. The professors were hit-or-miss in some classes so utilizing ratemyprofessor.com was a life saver. Over my four years, there was some professor turnover that I had experienced. It seemed like whenever a new professor was hired they were always an international. The school cannot pay up for good talent. I heard of professors that were not hired because they were offered a salary 2x of what Augustana could offer. Expect foreign professors with a hardy accent teaching some of your classes. I also did enjoy the small class sizes because I felt like I was forced to engage more and it was easier to ask questions.

Housing - Housing is hit-or-miss in your lower-class years. If you are unfortunate enough to live in Andreen or Seminary Hall during your freshman year, I pray for you. You can expect to be miserable the whole year and especially when it is hot outside. There is little to no A/C in those rooms. All the other housing is alright. You are forced to live on-campus for three years so you miss out on better deals of living off-campus with roommates.

Campus Life - There is always some activity happening on campus throughout the school year. I participated in a few clubs which I obtained leadership roles so I think there is something for everyone. My opinion about the cafeteria food is it is not good. Everything is soaked in oil, pre-packaged, and fried. The burgers look nothing like the one shown in the advertisement video on the Augustana Dining website. They’re all thin and frozen. The best food is the dessert.

This review was just my opinion, hopefully it can help you make a more informed decision about the school you may attend. I did receive a job offer before my Senior year began so that is a testament to an Augustana education, though it does depend on your major and...

This is the second time in 3 DAYS that everything has gone down. Augustanas website and learning management system both crashed, again, for the second time, in 3 days. I just lost all my work I was doing on there. Again. Last time it was for about 12 hours, though they lied and tried to say it was only for around 6.

How can they expect you to learn when they spend millions renovating things like the library (which they steer all the tours to like cattle on a farm to impress them) when actual students are shafted by inadequate spending in technology?

No cameras to protect students, noisy frat parities going on all the time, and now they can't even keep their learning system up. I'm sure the assignments I can't do now will still be due tomorrow though. I guess they did just 'quadruple the bandwidth' this year though, so now things load as fast as dial up internet, instead of not at all, so for 50 grand a year, you got that going for...

As a parent of three graduates from Augustana College in Rock Island, I am so pleased to express my gratitude and satisfaction from the education they received while there. I felt they were prepared to "face the real world" after graduation, thanks to their dedicated and talented teachers, and also from the association with other surrounding students who became lifelong friends and positive influences in their lives. I highly recommend Augie to any parents wanting to feel their offspring are...