Augustana vs. St Olaf

Comparable Facts

Compare Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

St Olaf College is larger than Augustana based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 2,570 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Augustana College is located in Rock Island, IL (Small City setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
• Augustana College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Augustana College 12:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Augustana vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Augustana 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 Augustana College than St Olaf ($24,714 vs. $26,756).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Augustana College are 8.3% lower than at St Olaf College ($12,502 vs. $13,630).
• St Olaf College is 15.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Augustana (about $8,162 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $51,598.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.8% higher at St Olaf than at Augustana College (about $8,162 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $51,598.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Augustana College as at St Olaf College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 14.9% larger than aid received by Augustana College students ($45,098 vs. $39,242).

Augustana vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Augustana 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 Augustana.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 240 points higher than at Augustana (1150).
• Incoming St Olaf students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Augustana).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 1030/1270; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Augustana College 21/29; St Olaf College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Augustana - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Augustana Aug 1, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Augustana (3.3).
• Augustana has a higher acceptance rate (62.7%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Augustana vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Augustana vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Augustana 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 Augustana College's (76%).
• Graduates from Augustana College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,100 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St Olaf College and Augustana graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, St Olaf College and Augustana graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Augustana students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 81%)

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.