About Us

A liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Wartburg College is dedicated to challenging and nurturing students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning. The college is characterized by vigorous academic expectations and community engagement within an environment of strong personal support. Vocation lives at the heart of a Wartburg education, and our students are uniquely equipped to explore how their passions intersect with the needs of the community and world. The college offers more than 50 majors, including engineering science, public health, actuarial science, business administration, exercise science, and music therapy, all rooted in a liberal arts tradition.

The 4-4-1 academic calendar includes a May Term that provides unique opportunities for off-campus study, internships, and field experiences. The one-term Wartburg West program in Denver, Colorado, combines a pre-professional internship with academic coursework. A similar program is offered in Des Moines, Iowa.

The college is home to students from 38 U.S. states and 59 countries representing more than 20 Christian denominations and several world religions. Wartburg encourages and values respectful conversations with people of diverse backgrounds and with differing spiritual perspectives.

The college offers more than 15 music ensembles, open to all majors, including two auditioned choirs and a wind ensemble that each tour internationally on a rotating three-year schedule. Our 20 athletic teams have a combined 25 straight years of individual or team national championships and more than 100 conference titles. Our more than 80 student organizations include honor societies and academic organizations, as well as more focused groups in spiritual life, the performing arts, service and interests (such as an International Club, Black Student Union, and Alliance), and sports and recreation. Each year, during the college’s breaks, students lead service trips that not only help the communities and people they visit but inspire students to transform their thinking and create a lifelong commitment to service and the public good.