Augustana College

Augustana College, now Augustana University, boasts a rich and winding history dating back to 1835, though it identifies 1860 as its official founding year. The institution's journey reflects the westward expansion of the United States, marked by multiple relocations and transformations driven by its foundational Scandinavian immigrant and Lutheran roots. Its distinctive name, "Augustana," is a direct reference to the Confessio Augustana, or Augsburg Confession, a pivotal document from the 1530 Protestant Reformation, anchoring the university deeply in its Lutheran heritage.

The college's origins trace to the Hillsboro Academy in Illinois, which evolved through several names and locations before the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod established Augustana College and Seminary in Chicago in 1860. This initial institution underwent further moves, experiencing a significant split where Swedish and Norwegian factions diverged. Ultimately, the Swedish branch settled in Rock Island, Illinois, forming Augustana College (Illinois), while the Norwegian lineage eventually merged with the Lutheran Normal School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1918, becoming the Augustana College and Normal School.

This merger solidified its presence in Sioux Falls, with the "and Normal School" appellation dropped in 1926. The institution celebrated its sesquicentennial in the 2010-11 academic year, marking 150 years since its identified founding. In a significant step reflecting its growth and broader academic scope, Augustana officially transitioned from Augustana College to Augustana University on September 1, 2015, embracing its evolving identity while continuing to honor its profound historical and theological underpinnings.