St. Olaf College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at St Olaf College was $56,970 a year.

Tuition increased 4.25% in 2023–from $54,650 the prior year. Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

If this information makes going to college seem daunting, remember, the "sticker price" of tuition doesn't always mean much if you plan to use financial aid to help pay for college. Many students pay a lot less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Additionally, student loans can make thecost of college more manageable until you're done with college.

St. Olaf College meets 96% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend St. Olaf College full-time are awarded $51,450 a year in financial aid, on average.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2023 was around $27,181 per student, not including those with no debt.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at St. Olaf College

St. Olaf College is a private, religious institution, so it has the same tuition for students from Minnesota as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a school where you qualify for in-state tuition can save significant money on the total cost of attending college. Don't forget to confirm your state's guidelines for how to qualify for in-state tuition. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Minnesota colleges

Tuition for International Students at St. Olaf College

Tuition at St. Olaf College is the same for every student.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but should research private or St. Olaf College-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at St. Olaf College:

•On-campus jobs •St. Olaf College-specific loans •St. Olaf College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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St. Olaf College Room, Board, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when budgeting for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at St. Olaf College.

Room and Board Costs at St. Olaf College

Housing and campus dining at St. Olaf College is $13,000 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining facilities. Students who live off campus but still want to use the dining facilities can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $6,200.

Meal-plan costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at St. Olaf College?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Many schools have resources so that those who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Transportation costs

The total cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus walkable? Do you own a car, or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can also have a big effect on transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, transportation in an urban area may be expensive, but there may be more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. The St. Olaf College campus is in a town in Minnesota, near Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, be sure to factor in the cost of things like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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Total Tuition and Expenses at St. Olaf College

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of how much students can expect to shell out for St. Olaf College.

How Much Does St. Olaf College Cost?

What will the cost of attending St. Olaf College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$56,970
Room and Board	$13,000
Board Only	$12,450
Other expenses	$900

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$70,870
Off-Campus	$70,320

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

St. Olaf College’s tuition and fees change based on: •Course load for part-time students

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Financial Aid at St. Olaf College

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The majority of St. Olaf College undergrads use financial aid to to cover the cost of tuition. In 2023, 2,280 of the 3,046 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. St. Olaf College meets 96% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $51,450 a year. Around 58% of St. Olaf College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. St. Olaf College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $27,181 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$22,435
State Loans	$32,931
St. Olaf College-Specific Loans	$8,227
Private Loans	$34,669

Most Common Loans for St. Olaf College Students
Federal Loans	51%
State loans	2%
Institutional Loans	6%
Private loans	10%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on St. Olaf College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at St. Olaf College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, St. Olaf College awarded 2,280 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $103 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $20.2 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

St. Olaf College Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for St. Olaf College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at St. Olaf College was $51,450 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of St. Olaf College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$19,420
Off-Campus	$18,870

What will attending St. Olaf College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the St. Olaf College's net cost calculator on their website.

St. Olaf College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

St. Olaf College does not have guaranteed tuition.

St. Olaf College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does St. Olaf College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

St Olaf College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

St. Olaf College's Endowment

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 supporting students.

St. Olaf College's endowment was valued at $701.7 million in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million. For each full-time student, St. Olaf College spends about $17,445 a year.

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Learn More About St. Olaf College

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