Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
- More
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.
St. Olaf College is a private four-year college located in Northfield, MN. This academic institution uses a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 48%. The freshman retention rate at St. Olaf College is 92.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 83%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is July 1.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into St. Olaf College.
Quick Facts
3,124
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$62,700
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
83%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to increase your chances of being accepted. Check out some important facts about admission at St. Olaf College.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,200 in 2025. St. Olaf College has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. 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 unparalleled 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 11% and ACT scores 29%. 48% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 47% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 5% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 58, 40 between 24-29 and 2 in the range between 18-23.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 30 and the average GPA was 3.73. 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 700 for the admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 680.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. If you are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for St. Olaf College was 92.2% in 2025, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 83%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 3,124 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 47. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 3,124, 326 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 20.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,238 male and 1,743 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at St. Olaf College.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 152, and the number of Afro-American students was 97. 299 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 142 identified with more than one race. There were also 11 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at St. Olaf College that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for St. Olaf College is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $62,700 in 2025. St. Olaf College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to spend about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at St. Olaf College.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at St. Olaf College was $14,300 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school cost $6,820, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $6,820.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 62,700 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,300 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 78,000 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid at St. Olaf College.
According to the most recent data, 678 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $57,151.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 2,382 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at St. Olaf College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 2,382. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $4,978,030, and state $2,894,491.
$28,991
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. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
485 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 225 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $19,734,382. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $3,543,888 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.
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at St. Olaf College was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 326. Out of that number, there were 143 male and 183 female faculty members. 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
It is not all about learning and grades at St. Olaf College: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about campus life at St. Olaf College.
It has a campus size of 300 acres.
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.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 201. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Running Club, followed by Women in STEM and International Students Organization. Other popular organizations at St. Olaf College are Pickleball Club and Students for Reproductive Rights.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students who have a passion for media and communication, St. Olaf College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At St. Olaf College, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical 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
At St. Olaf College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
-
St. Olaf College is located in Northfield, MN.
-
St. Olaf College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
The overall full-time tuition per academic year for St. Olaf College is 62,700 USD, based on the most recent data.
-
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.
-
According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for St. Olaf College is 48%.
-
The most recent reported freshman retention rate for St. Olaf College is 92.2%.
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.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
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.