St. Olaf doesn’t produce ordinary college grads. It turns out Oles (Oh-Lees). St. Olaf’s 3,000 students come from 90 countries, every state, and a variety of religious and non- religious backgrounds. Oles choose from more than 85 majors, concentrations, and pre- professional tracks within the intense liberal arts academic program. The long-standing emphasis on global engagement broadens perspectives, and two-thirds of Oles study abroad. Oles aren’t necessarily religious, but the college’s religious tradition encourages deep self-reflection. Over 200 organizations flourish within an intensely residential setting. The vibrant Ole community accepts, supports, and encourages, generating lifelong friendships and invaluable connections. St. Olaf’s beautiful 300-acre campus is located in Northfield, Minnesota, approximately 40 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
St. Olaf College is a private, religious school in a small town setting in Northfield, Minnesota. St Olaf College was founded in 1874 and enrolls 2,988 undergrads and no graduate students. St Olaf College ensures housing for up to 2,770 students. Most students live in off campus housing, and 90% of students spend their weekends on campus.
📆 Mark your calendar! The deadline to apply regular decision to St Olaf College for Fall 2023 is January 15. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should receive admissions decisions by March 15.
There are many ways for students to get involved at St Olaf College!
Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of St Olaf College's theater groups.
Are you interested in journalism and communications? St Olaf College students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.
St Olaf College does not have any fraternities or sororities, do it might be a good option if Greek life isn't a priority for you.
Planning to play sports? St Olaf College has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at St Olaf College on the Student Life page.
2022 St Olaf College Facts At-A-Glance | |
---|---|
Academic Calendar | 4-1-4 (2 long terms separated by a month-long mini-term) |
Overall Acceptance Rate | 47% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate | 48% |
Early Action Acceptance Rate | 78% |
Average GPA | 3.7 |
Applicants Submitting ACT scores | 78% |
Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 16% |
Tuition | $54,650 |
Percent of Need Met | 95% |
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package | $49,910 |
Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Some factors that can help you determine what a good school for you might be include admissions criteria, acceptance rate, tuition costs, and more.
Let's take a closer look at these factors to get a clearer view of what St Olaf College offers and if it could be a good choice for you.
St Olaf College is very difficult to get into. St Olaf College admitted 47% of all applicants in 2022. Last year, 6,480 students applied to St Olaf College and 3,073 were admitted.
Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It is a way to measure how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.
Around 91% of students who start at St Olaf College return the next year. Around 85% of students who started at St Olaf College earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.
Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. Within six months of graduating, 66% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.
Check with St Olaf College directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.
An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.
As of 2022, the total market value of St. Olaf College's endowment was $701.7 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, St Olaf College spends about $16,136 a year.
Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.
St Olaf College meets 95% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $49,910 a year.
Graduates in the class of 2022 had an average of $27,797 in student loans per borrower. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.
The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022
Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA asap. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.
Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at St Olaf College.
Based on this information, how does St Olaf College sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for someone else! So ask yourself: Is St Olaf College a good school for you?
If St. Olaf College seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.
Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.
St Olaf College Community Forums
Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting into some of the colleges and universities in the U.S.
St Olaf College is located in the small town setting of Northfield, Minnesota, less than an hour from Minneapolis-St. Paul.
If you want to see St Olaf College for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 35 to Northfield, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what St Olaf College and Northfield are like without leaving home.
See a full list of colleges in Minnesota and save your favorites to your college list.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to St Olaf College is Jan 15.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to St Olaf College is Apr 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
More than an application, the Coalition provides free tools and resources to help students through the college admissions process, beginning as early as 9th grade.
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
33 and Above
28 to 33
28 and Less
The median ACT score of an admitted student to St Olaf College is 31. Students with an ACT score of 33 and above have a good chance of getting into St Olaf College. Students with an ACT score that falls between 28 and 33 have an average chance of getting admitted, and students with an ACT score of 28 or below have a low chance of being offered admission.
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1420 and Above
1240 to 1420
1240 and Less
The median SAT score for St Olaf College students is 1360. Applicants with SAT scores of 1420 and above have a good chance of being admitted to St Olaf College, while applicants with SAT scores between 1240 to 1420 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1240 have a low chance of being offered a spot at St Olaf College.
Tuition & Fees
$68,100
In State$68,100
Out-of-StateWondering what life at St Olaf College is like? There are approximately 2,988 students enrolled at St Olaf College. 99% percent of students attend school full-time, 48% percent are from MN and 52% percent of students are from other states.
99%
Full Time1%
Part Time48%
In State52%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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