Apply to Luther

To be considered for admission as a first-year international student, you must submit the following:

• Common Application—including the essay/personal statement.
• Two Letters of Recommendation: Teachers, Counselors, Coaches or Advisors.
• Official transcripts/Gradesheets/Marksheets:
  • Original or certified copies of your secondary schooling. These copies should be signed by the proper authorities.*
  • Final secondary school examination (school leaving certificate) and the results of any national examination (if applicable). If not available at time of application, please submit once complete.
• English Proficiency: Students who do not attend an English-speaking high school, and who are not native English speakers, must submit one of the following exams:
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): For tests taken before January 21, 2026, we require a minimum score of 80 (old TOEFL scoring). For tests taken after January 21, 2026, we require a minimum score of 4 (new TOEFL scoring).
  • TOEFL Essentials: Band 8.5 or higher
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): Band 6.5 or higher
  • DET (Duolingo English Test): 115 or higher
• SAT or ACT: OPTIONAL. If you submit your scores, they will be included as part of our holistic application review process.
• Financial Documents: 
  • Completed International Student Application for Financial Assistance,
  • Certified bank statements, wage statements, or other documents that provide evidence of your ability to finance your studies.
• Interview: Applicants are invited to an interview with Luther College admissions, as one of the final parts of the admissions process.

*Please note: An original or certified copy of a document must include a stamp/seal and signature from a school official or notary, which certifies the document as a copy of an original. Each document should be submitted in English. If the document is not available in English from the school, please submit a complete translation using the same format as the original document.

Luther welcomes transfer students from all types of colleges and universities. You are a transfer student if you attempted college credit after graduating from high school or after earning your GED.

To be considered for admission as a transfer international student, you must submit the following:

• Common Application—including the essay/personal statement.
• Official transcripts/Gradesheets/Marksheets:
  • Sent from every U.S. college or university attended
  • Original or certified copies of your secondary schooling. These copies should be signed by the proper authorities.*
  • Final secondary school examination (school leaving certificate) and the results of any national examination (if applicable).
• English Proficiency: Students who do not attend an English-speaking high school, and who are not native English speakers, must submit one of the following:
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): For tests taken before January 21, 2026, we require a minimum score of 80 (old TOEFL scoring). For tests taken after January 21, 2026, we require a minimum score of 4 (new TOEFL scoring).
  • TOEFL Essentials: Band 8.5 or higher
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): Band 6.5 or higher
  • DET (Duolingo English Test): 115 or higher
  • Completion of 30 semester hours of transferable credit with a minimum 2.70 GPA from a U.S. institution
  • Completion of two college-level English composition courses from a U.S. college/university with a grade of 3.0 or higher
• Two letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, advisors, or coaches
• Financial Documents:
  • Completed International Student Application for Financial Assistance,
  • Certified bank statements, wage statements, or other documents that provide evidence of your ability to finance your studies.
• Credential Evaluation: Students who have completed college-level coursework at an institution outside the U.S. may be required to submit a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-approved credential evaluation agency, such as World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), to verify their credentials and U.S. equivalencies. Please note that the cost of this evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant.
  • The Evaluation Company (TEC) partners with Luther College to offer a discounted rate for their international transcript evaluation service. There is a custom application for Luther that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation. You can access their application here.
• SAT or ACT: OPTIONAL. If you submit your scores, they will be included as part of our holistic application review process.
• Interview: Applicants are invited to an interview with Luther College admissions, as one of the final parts of the admissions process.

*Please note: An original or certified copy of a document must include a stamp/seal and signature from school official or notary, which certifies the document as a copy of an original. Each document should be submitted in English. If the document is not available in English from the school, please submit a complete translation using the same format as the original document.

Luther welcomes applications from U.S. citizens who have been living and studying outside the US. We value the unique perspectives and global experiences these students bring to campus. Applications from U.S. citizens residing abroad are reviewed by the International Admissions Committee under the international admissions timeline.

To be considered for admission as a U.S. student living abroad, you must submit the following:

• Common Application—including the essay/personal statement.
• Essay/personal statement, included in the CommonApp.
• One letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, coach or advisor.
• Original or certified copies of your secondary school transcripts.
• SAT or ACT*: OPTIONAL. If you submit your scores, they will be included as part of our holistic application review process.
• Optional Interview: Applicants are invited to an interview with Luther College admissions, as one of the final parts of the admissions process.

*Luther College also allows students to submit self-reported test scores for admission purposes. All students are eligible for academic merit-based scholarships regardless of whether or not they choose to submit a test score.

Note: Remember to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you are interested in being considered for need-based aid.

International Students and U.S. Students Abroad Admissions Timeline

For consideration, all completed admissions and financial aid documents must be submitted by the following deadlines:

• Early Action*: January 1 deadline (for notification by February 1; non-binding)
• Regular Decision (for Fall Semester beginning in August): March 1 priority deadline
• Regular Decision (for Spring Semester beginning in February): November 1 priority deadline

Students may apply regular decision after the priority deadline and will be considered on a space/financial aid-available basis.

For some students, it may be more convenient to begin at Luther midyear. This is particularly true for students from countries where the educational calendar is significantly different from the U.S. school calendar. We do, therefore, allow some students to begin midyear.

*Please note, admissions status notifications for early action applicants include admit, deny, wait list, and reconsider with Regular Decision applicants.