Augsburg University

Augsburg University is a private, coeducational institution historically affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Situated in the heart of an urban center, its location provides students with exceptional access to professional opportunities, cultural institutions, and diverse communities. The university is deeply committed to vocational discernment, justice, and service, encouraging students to integrate their education with faith and action. It offers a comprehensive liberal arts education across more than 50 majors and 11 graduate programs, operating as a distinct urban campus where service learning and community engagement are central to the student experience.

The university was founded in 1869 by Norwegian Lutherans in Marshall, Wisconsin, as the Norwegian Memorial Free Church Seminary, with the initial purpose of educating Norwegian-speaking pastors. The institution relocated to its present location in Minneapolis in 1872 and was later renamed Augsburg Seminary, reflecting its focus on the Lutheran tradition and the Augsburg Confession. It began offering a liberal arts curriculum alongside its theological training in 1874 and became fully coeducational in 1920. Over the decades, the institution evolved, separating the theological seminary from the college in the 1960s, a move that solidified its identity as a comprehensive liberal arts university. This history of theological roots and civic commitment continues to define its emphasis on faith, learning, and service to its community.

This university is a unique urban liberal arts institution that successfully marries a rich Lutheran tradition with a forward-thinking, experiential approach to education. By actively leveraging its location in the vibrant Twin Cities, the university cultivates students who are not only intellectually capable but also deeply aware of and engaged with the social issues of the world. Its emphasis on vocation, justice, and service ensures that graduates leave not just with a degree, but with a clear sense of purpose and the practical skills necessary to lead and serve effectively in diverse professional and civic roles, making it a distinctive choice for students committed to personal growth and social change.