St Olaf College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Northfield, Minnesota. It enrolls 3,093 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
76/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes91
Value52
Affordability27
Selectivity87
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 48.3%, St Olaf College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
48.3%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1300 – 1470
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether St Olaf College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending St Olaf College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,874 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,874
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$59,760
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,630
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,630
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$900
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$900
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,843
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,404
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,342
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,584
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,367
Over $110,000
$33,166
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,63225%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$29,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,000
↓ $5,000
No Pell $25,000
↓ $1,000
Female students $23,250
↓ $2,750
Male students $23,250
↓ $2,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
88% of full-time students who enrolled at St Olaf College graduate within six years, and 91% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
88%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
91%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered St Olaf College earn a median of $65,543 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$65,543
Earning > $25K
87%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$54,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$61,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$47,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$51,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$61,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,200, about 12% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
St Olaf College is home to 3,093 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,093
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.7%2,063
International 10.5%326
Hispanic 9.7%299
Asian 4.9%152
Other 4.7%145
Black 3.1%97
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at St Olaf College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantNorthfield, Minnesota
Housing
Strongly residential2,987 beds for 3,093 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
St Olaf College offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at St Olaf College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$906M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$81,946
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
232 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
57
25%
$103,692
Associate Professors
73
31%
$83,570
Assistant Professors
88
38%
$68,817
Instructors
12
5%
$62,930
No Rank
2
1%
$94,645
Pros & Cons of St Olaf College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how St Olaf College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, St Olaf College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about St Olaf College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about St Olaf College.
Is St Olaf College hard to get into?
St Olaf College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 48.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at St Olaf College?
St Olaf College has an acceptance rate of 48.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for St Olaf College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at St Olaf College scored between 1300 and 1470 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for St Olaf College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at St Olaf College scored between 28 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does St Olaf College cost?
The average net price after aid at St Olaf College is $23,874 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is St Olaf College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $65,543 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,874 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is St Olaf College known for?
St Olaf College is best known for its programs in Biology, Mathematics, Economics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do St Olaf College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering St Olaf College are $65,543, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is St Olaf College accredited?
Yes. St Olaf College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend St Olaf College?
St Olaf College enrolls 3,093 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at St Olaf College?
St Olaf College graduates 88% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is St Olaf College a public or private college?
St Olaf College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is St Olaf College located?
St Olaf College is located in Northfield, Minnesota.
What programs does St Olaf College offer?
St Olaf College offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Mathematics, Economics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at St Olaf College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at St Olaf College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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