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St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota 55057-1098

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeRuralPrivate

Strong graduate outcomes

St Olaf College is a private institution in Northfield with particular strength in biology and psychology. With an average SAT of 1373, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 3K undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

84% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $65,543 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $22,752.

Established
1874
Motto
Fram! Fram! Kristmenn, Krossmenn
Mascot
St. Olaf Lion, "Ole"
Type
Private liberal arts college
Division
Division III

Plan Your Visit

52%Acceptance
1373SAT Avg
3,049Students
12:1Student:Faculty
84%Grad Rate
$65,543Earnings 10yr
$22,752Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

St Olaf College Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate52.1%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1373

Reading & WritingMid: 670
640740
MathMid: 665
620730

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 31
2832

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

52.1%

Trend

SAT Avg

1373

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$56,970
Room & Board$13,000
Books & Supplies$1,000
Total Cost of Attendance$69,200
Average Net Price$22,752
Median Debt at Graduation$26,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$276

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$9,504
$30–48K$11,927
$48–75K$15,236
$75–110K$21,245
$110K+$32,708

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

56.4%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$23,250

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

20

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

4

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

2

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

6

Drug Arrests

5

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (36)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

91%

Positive
  • •91% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
3,049
Gender Split
58% / 42%
Women / Men
First Generation
13%
Pell Grant Recipients
20%

Race & Ethnicity

White 67%
Black 3%
Hispanic 9%
Asian 6%
Two+ 5%
Int'l 10%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate83.5%
Freshman Retention90.5%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$48,373
10 Years$65,543

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#50
↓2
vs 2024
Forbes
#185
↑1
vs 2024
Wall Street Journal
#29
↑1
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#30
↑2
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Midwest Conference

WrestlingSoccerSoccer tournamentCross countryNordic skiDivision iiiUltimate teamsSoccer championshipNordic winsUltimateDay one2019 d

History & Fun Facts

  • •Olaf's School opened on January 8, 1875, at its first site under the leadership of its first president, Thorbjorn N.
  • •In 1887 the Manitou Messenger was founded as a campus magazine and has since evolved into the college's student newspaper, now called the Olaf Messenger.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MSP Minneapolis-St Paul29 mi
MKE Milwaukee284 mi
ORD Chicago O'Hare316 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1116 mi · ~32h 14m drive
New York, NY1007 mi · ~29h 5m drive
Hartford, CT1048 mi · ~30h 17m drive
Providence, RI1109 mi · ~32h 2m drive
Albany, NY978 mi · ~28h 15m drive
Syracuse, NY854 mi · ~24h 40m drive
Rochester, NY781 mi · ~22h 34m drive
Buffalo, NY722 mi · ~20h 51m drive
Philadelphia, PA971 mi · ~28h 3m drive
Pittsburgh, PA726 mi · ~20h 58m drive
Harrisburg, PA879 mi · ~25h 24m drive
Newark, NJ998 mi · ~28h 50m drive
Washington, DC915 mi · ~26h 26m drive
Baltimore, MD922 mi · ~26h 38m drive
Atlanta, GA876 mi · ~25h 18m drive
Charlotte, NC912 mi · ~26h 21m drive
Raleigh, NC972 mi · ~28h 5m drive
Miami, FL1482 mi · ~42h 49m drive
Orlando, FL1278 mi · ~36h 55m drive
Tampa, FL1285 mi · ~37h 7m drive
Nashville, TN665 mi · ~19h 13m drive
New Orleans, LA1017 mi · ~29h 23m drive
Richmond, VA948 mi · ~27h 23m drive
Chicago, IL332 mi · ~9h 35m drive
Detroit, MI529 mi · ~15h 17m drive
Minneapolis, MN36 mi · ~1h 2m drive
St. Louis, MO432 mi · ~12h 29m drive
Kansas City, MO377 mi · ~10h 53m drive
Indianapolis, IN484 mi · ~13h 59m drive
Columbus, OH606 mi · ~17h 30m drive
Cleveland, OH615 mi · ~17h 46m drive
Milwaukee, WI281 mi · ~8h 7m drive
Dallas, TX830 mi · ~23h 59m drive
Houston, TX1023 mi · ~29h 33m drive
Austin, TX1012 mi · ~29h 14m drive
San Antonio, TX1079 mi · ~31h 10m drive
Los Angeles, CA1513 mi · ~43h 43m drive
San Francisco, CA1581 mi · ~45h 40m drive
San Diego, CA1520 mi · ~43h 55m drive
Seattle, WA1406 mi · ~40h 37m drive
Portland, OR1435 mi · ~41h 27m drive
Denver, CO687 mi · ~19h 51m drive
Phoenix, AZ1263 mi · ~36h 29m drive
Salt Lake City, UT983 mi · ~28h 24m drive
Honolulu, HI3965 mi · ~114h 33m drive
Upper Midwest / Northeast (cold winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP)29 miles
Rental car
44 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
58 min$35-58
Milwaukee (MKE)284 miles
Rental car
426 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
568 min$341-568

Deadline Calendar

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St Olaf College Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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St Olaf College — v2 Preview — TourStack