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Northfield, MN
St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts college located in Northfield, Minnesota. Established in 1874, the college is known for its strong academic programs, beautiful campus, and vibrant community. The institution offers over 45+ majors and concentrations, ranging from humanities to natural sciences, as well as numerous study abroad opportunities and research opportunities for students.
With a commitment to academic excellence, St. Olaf College provides students with a rigorous and well-rounded education. The college's curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and global perspectives. Students benefit from small class sizes, allowing for personalized attention from dedicated faculty members who are experts in their fields. The college also prides itself on fostering a sense of community and collaboration, with various student organizations, clubs, and events that contribute to a rich campus life.
St. Olaf College boasts a picturesque 300-acre campus, featuring an expansive arboretum, impressive architecture, and state-of-the-art facilities. The college's commitment to sustainability is evident with its LEED-certified buildings and focus on renewable energy sources. Additionally, St. Olaf has a strong tradition of music and arts, with a world-renowned music program and a dedicated arts center that hosts performances and exhibitions throughout the year. Overall, St. Olaf College offers a nurturing environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and artistically.
Located in Northfield, MN, St. Olaf College is a private four-year college. This institution follows a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 52%. The freshman retention rate at St. Olaf College is 90.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 84%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. Find out more about what you can expect if you get into St. Olaf College.
Quick Facts
3,074
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
84%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you discover as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly increase. What are the admission requirements for St. Olaf College?
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,106 in 2024. St. Olaf College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an outstanding educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 12% and ACT scores 36%. 40% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 49% between 1,200 and 1,399, 9% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 2% between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 63, 34 between 24-29 and 3 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2024 was 30 and the average GPA was 3.71. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into St. Olaf College; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 690 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 690.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to this school is January 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for St. Olaf College was 90.5% in 2024, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 84%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the institution had an enrollment of 3,074 students.
The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 3,074, 303 of which were foreign students. 32 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 176, and the number of Black American students was 98. 284 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 138 as multirace. There were also 13 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at St. Olaf College, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 647 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $54,435.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
2,315 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at St. Olaf College is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 2,315. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $4,196,052, and state $3,803,382.
$26,209
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 476 students overall (including freshmen) at St. Olaf College in 2024. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 193 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $19,133,450. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $3,244,861 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
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Fall Transfer
Fall Transfer
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Fall
Application Deadline: 2025-04-01
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at St. Olaf College was 12:1: that means 12 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 313 faculty members. This number included 135 men and 171 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at St. Olaf College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some info about social life at St. Olaf College.
Its campus is 300 acres in size.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to recently gathered data, there are 207 open-membership organizations at St. Olaf College. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Women's Ultimate, followed by Pre-Health Professionals and College Democrats. Other popular student organizations at this school are Alpha Phi Omega and Swing Club.
Student Services
At St. Olaf College, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a security patrol available 24/7. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at St. Olaf College is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at St. Olaf College.
Career Counselling
There are a library and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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St. Olaf College is located in Northfield, MN.
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St. Olaf College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for St. Olaf College is 52%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for St. Olaf College is 90.5%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.