Babson vs. St Olaf

Comparable Facts

Compare Babson College in Wellesley, MA with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Babson College is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (3,932 students vs. 3,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Babson College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
• Babson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Babson College 15:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Babson vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Babson 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 Babson ($26,756 vs. $32,019).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 36.8% lower than at Babson College ($13,630 vs. $21,550).
• St Olaf College is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Babson (about $2,608 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $57,152.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at St Olaf than at Babson College (about $2,608 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $57,152.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Babson College (100% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Babson College students is 6.8% larger than aid received by St Olaf College students ($48,173 vs. $45,098).

Babson vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Babson 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 Babson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Babson College (1460) is 70 points higher than at St Olaf (1390).
• Incoming Babson students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at St Olaf).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 1390/1530; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 31/34; St Olaf College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Babson - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Babson Jan 3, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Babson students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
• St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (48.3%) than Babson (17.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at Babson vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Babson vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Babson 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).

• Babson College's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than St Olaf College's (85%).
• Graduates from Babson College earn a median of about $54,800 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,500 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Babson College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Babson graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Babson students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 88%)

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.