St. Olaf College
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. Its campus is 300 acres in size. This school uses a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 56%. The freshman retention rate at St. Olaf College is 90.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 85%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about St. Olaf College.
Quick Facts
3,046
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
56%
Acceptance Rate
$56,970
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
85%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. 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 3,116 in 2023. St. Olaf College has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. 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. This eminent institution with a rich history offers an unmatched learning experience to its students.
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 15% and ACT scores 37%. 41% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 55% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 4% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 61, 37 between 24-29 and 2 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2023 was 30 while the average GPA was 3.72. 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 admitted students, while the average SAT Math score was 690.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15.
56%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for St. Olaf College was 90.1% in 2023, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 85%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the right fit for you is not simple. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at St. Olaf College in 2023 was 3,046.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 50. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 3,046, 324 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 18.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,260 male and 1,746 female full-time students in 2023.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. 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 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 175, while the number of Afro-American students was 102. 252 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 119 as multirace. There were also 18 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for St. Olaf College.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about St. Olaf College estimated tuition fees.
In 2023, tuition amounted to $56,970 for all full-time domestic students. Since this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to give about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at St. Olaf College.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at St. Olaf College was $13,000 in 2023. If you only wanted a room on the campus, you had to pay $6,200 for the 2023 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $6,200.
| Tuition | $ 56,970 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,000 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 70,970 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for many students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at St. Olaf College, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 675 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $52,691.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
2,280 students obtained 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 total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 2,280. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $3,778,658, and state $3,460,898.
$21,810
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 681 students overall (including freshmen) at St. Olaf College in 2023. 372 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $17,040,003. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $3,162,406 USD.
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 2023, 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 329. This number included 162 male and 165 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
Not everything at St. Olaf College is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some information about social life at St. Olaf College.
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 207. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Women's Ultimate, followed by Pre-Health Professionals and College Democrats. Other popular organizations at St. Olaf College are Alpha Phi Omega and Swing Club.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You 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 comfortable and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school has 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
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 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.
-
According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 56,970 USD per academic year for St. Olaf College.
-
This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
-
The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for St. Olaf College is 56%.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for St. Olaf College is 90.1%.
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.