Evangelical Lutheran Church Colleges

Tracing its early roots back to Martin Luther’s church reform in the early 1500’s through the mid-1600's arrival of European Lutherans to America, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was formed over 20 years ago. The ELCA was a melding of three separate, well-established North American church bodies, including the American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Churches and the Lutheran Churches of America. The ELCA is now comprised of over 4.5 million members, 65 councils, and nearly 10,500 congregations across the U.S. and Caribbean.

Evangelical Lutheran Church Higher Education Overview

The importance Martin Luther placed on education remains a key component to the ELCA. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America partners with its over 30 colleges and universities throughout the U.S., from Augsburg College (Minneapolis, Minnesota) to Newberry College (Newberry, SC), to carry out its education initiative. More than 75% of Lutheran college students (at varying income levels) receive financial aid, much of it in the form of grants and scholarships. Additionally, Lutheran-based campus ministries provides an ELCA presence at more than 180 state and private colleges and universities, with cooperating congregations in campus ministry at an additional 400 campuses nationwide.