Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
George Washington Carleton College Georgetown Fordham Syracuse Macalester College Lawrence University of St Thomas Minnesota Mason Lafayette College DU| American University | St Olaf College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | St Olaf | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Northfield, MN | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 13,885 | 3,046 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #156 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | stolaf.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | St Olaf | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,070 | $54,650 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,070 | $54,650 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,706 | $12,450 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,369 | $26,171 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,138 | $40,399 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 99% |
Admission |
AU | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,510 | 5,524 | ||
| Admitted | 7,926 | 3,116 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.6% | 56.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 27.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 28/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1430 | 1300/1480 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
AU | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
AU | St Olaf | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 91% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $279 |
Diversity |
AU | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
AU | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 43% | ||
Campus |
AU | St Olaf | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,046 students)
AU vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or St Olaf?
- St Olaf College is 3% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($54,650.00 vs. $53,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3% higher at St Olaf than American University ($54,650.00 vs. $53,070.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at St Olaf College than AU ($26,171 vs. $41,369)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 26.2% lower than costs at American University ($12,450 vs. $15,706)
- More students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College than American University (99% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 48.9% larger than aid received American University ($40,399 vs. $27,138)
AU vs. St Olaf Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or St Olaf? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St Olaf or AU .
- The average SAT score at St Olaf College (1282) is 30 points higher than at AU (1252)
- Incoming St Olaf students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at AU (28)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at St Olaf (3.68)
- St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (56.4%) than AU (40.6%)
AU vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or St Olaf? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between St Olaf and AU.
- The graduation rate at St Olaf is higher than American University (85% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $11,100 more per year than St Olaf graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $53,700)
- American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/