Building on the success of the 2023-24 recruitment effort, in which all admitted students were guaranteed a minimum $30,000 scholarship, Wartburg College took its responsibility to increase accessibility in higher education one step further with the rollout of the Wartburg Commitment.

The three-pronged Wartburg Commitment starts with a new competitive tuition sticker price of $25,000, which will allow more students to discover the value of the Wartburg experience. All pieces of the Wartburg Commitment will go into effect in the 2024-25 school year.

“Families often make decisions based on published tuition prices without knowing about the scholarship and financial aid packages that significantly impact sticker price,” said Dr. Rebecca Ehretsman, president. “We want to ensure all students have access to a Wartburg education and the experiences we offer.”

The new tuition model also will apply to returning students. Thanks to the lower tuition rate, year-over-year increases — historically about 4 percent — will be smaller dollarwise, keeping costs down for students as they complete their degrees.

In addition to the new competitive price, Wartburg also announced the Access to Excellence initiative. It guarantees all new Iowa students who qualify for the Iowa Tuition Grant and are admitted to the college will have their full tuition costs covered through institutional, state, and federal gift assistance.

“When we first started looking at our tuition model, we knew serving our lower- and middle-income families needed to be one of our top priorities,” said Rick Willis, vice president for student recruitment. “All new Iowa students who fill out the FAFSA will automatically be evaluated for eligibility in this program so they can focus on the more important elements of their college search — finding the college that fits their academic, co-curricular, and personal needs. Of course, we hope they will find exactly what they are looking for here at Wartburg.”

As part of the Access to Excellence program, out-of-state students who demonstrate similar financial need will receive a minimum of $9,500 per year. Wartburg will continue to recognize student achievement for all students through generous scholarships and other financial aid offers.

The final piece of the Wartburg Commitment is the Knight’s Experience, a one-time disbursement of up to $1,500 that students can use in their second, third, or fourth year to offset the cost of an experiential learning opportunity. Qualifying programs include study away, internships, research, service trips, and more.

“We are committed to experiential learning that occurs both inside and outside the classroom. The opportunity to learn about diverse communities and cultures through immersion and shared experiences is a distinct aspect of a Wartburg College education,” Ehretsman said. “We believe every Wartburg student should have access to a broad range of learning experiences, but we know that cost can be a barrier.
The Knight’s Experience funding will put these opportunities within reach for even more students.”

The college will continue to offer students opportunities in more than 60 areas of study, including engineering, public health, actuarial science, business administration, exercise science, and music therapy, all rooted in the liberal arts tradition. Co-curricular options also will continue to grow and thrive with 18 music ensembles open to all majors, including four that tour internationally on a rotating schedule; a legacy of athletic dominance in more than 20 NCAA Division III sports; and student organizations that include honor societies and academic organizations, as well as more focused groups in spiritual life, the performing arts, service, and sports and recreation.

“We are proud of the breadth and excellence in the opportunities we have to offer at Wartburg College and excited by the possibility that this change will make them more accessible for prospective and current students alike,” Willis said.