AU vs. St Olaf

Deciding between American University and St Olaf College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
St Olaf College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • St Olaf Northfield, MN
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • St Olaf Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • St Olaf 3,124
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • St Olaf Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • St Olaf #143
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • St Olaf Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • St Olaf Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • St Olaf

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • St Olaf $13,630
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • St Olaf $26,756
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • St Olaf $45,098
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • St Olaf 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • St Olaf 6,623
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • St Olaf 3,200
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • St Olaf 48.3%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • St Olaf 26.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • St Olaf 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • St Olaf 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • St Olaf 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • St Olaf A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • St Olaf Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • St Olaf Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • St Olaf 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • St Olaf 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • St Olaf Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • St Olaf Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • St Olaf 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • St Olaf
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • St Olaf 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • St Olaf $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • St Olaf 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • St Olaf $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • St Olaf $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • St Olaf 42%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • St Olaf 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • St Olaf Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • St Olaf No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • St Olaf 75%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • St Olaf 6%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • St Olaf 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • St Olaf 5%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • St Olaf 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • St Olaf 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • St Olaf 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • St Olaf 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • St Olaf 42%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • St Olaf Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • St Olaf No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • St Olaf Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • St Olaf No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • St Olaf No

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 3,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

AU vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or St Olaf? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at St Olaf College than AU ($26,756 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 24.2% lower than at American University ($13,630 vs. $17,982).
  • St Olaf College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $989 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at St Olaf than at American University (about $989 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at American University (100% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 24.1% larger than aid received by American University students ($45,098 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or St Olaf? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between St Olaf and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 20 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming AU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at St Olaf (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; St Olaf College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

AU vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and St Olaf? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • St Olaf College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, American University graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($24,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.