President's Office

Welcome to the Augustana College website. I trust you will find this a valuable resource for learning more about our students, our faculty, and our belief in an education which speaks to the whole person — through intellect, character and spirit. I hope what you learn here will encourage you to visit Augustana, and learn why many think our setting on the bluffs above the Mississippi River makes ours one of the most stunning college campuses in the nation.

Being situated above a great river gives you a vantage point which is both breathtaking and ever-changing. Much of what college is about is learning to view the world from new vantage points, and learning how you can shape — and be shaped by — what you see.

With our 11-to-1 student/faculty ratio, the close ties you'll build with your teachers will help you engage in shared inquiry. And at Augustana, this kind of inquiry goes beyond a research project or creative endeavor. It's about asking what your work could mean to the world. It's about asking what you could mean to the world.

One of our objectives at Augustana College is to help you find your direction and your groove in life, or as we would put it, your life's calling. Vocational reflection involves learning about your talents, passions and values, and where they might be leading you. Putting that another way, it's learning about the kind of person you are and the kind of person you will become.

And when it's time to put what you've learned into action, remember that a degree from Augustana College has clout. Ask around: you'll discover that what employers and graduate schools want most today are people who can think critically, express themselves clearly, and hold themselves to high ethical standards. Ask our alumni and you'll find their experiences mirror those of two Augustana graduates featured in a front page story in USA Today, which you can read by clicking here.

Employers and graduate schools alike, now more than ever, value graduates of liberal arts colleges. They know Augustana graduates have developed the qualities of mind, spirit and body necessary for leadership and service.

The value of an Augustana degree is clear. We rank among the top 10 percent of all colleges and universities based on the number of graduates who go on to earn doctoral degrees. About one-third of our graduates work toward an advanced degree immediately, and two-thirds do so eventually.

Again, we hope that what your learn on this website prompts a visit to our campus. I hope you'll visit the Admissions pages to learn how to do just that.

Steven C. Bahls, President
(309) 794-7208
stevenbahls@augustana.edu