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Carleton College Macalester College Lawrence University of St Thomas Minnesota Whitman College Oberlin Denison Wooster Luther- Norse Lewis and Clark Gustavus Adolphus College| Bethel University | St Olaf College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Bethel University | St Olaf | ||
| Location | Saint Paul, MN | Northfield, MN | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 3,546 | 3,046 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #238 | #156 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bethel.edu | stolaf.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bethel University | St Olaf | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $41,110 | $54,650 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,110 | $54,650 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,490 | $12,450 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,915 | $26,171 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,586 | $40,399 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
Bethel University | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,199 | 5,524 | ||
| Admitted | 1,594 | 3,116 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72.5% | 56.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27.9% | 27.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.6 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 20/28 | 28/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1123/1343 | 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 | May 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Bethel University | St Olaf | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Bethel University | St Olaf | ||
| Graduation Rate | 73% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,100 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 91% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,400 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $252 | $279 |
Diversity |
Bethel University | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 38% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 62% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
Bethel University | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 79% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 43% | ||
Campus |
Bethel University | 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
- Bethel University is larger than than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (3,546 students vs. 3,046 students)
Bethel University vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bethel University or St Olaf?
- St Olaf College is 32.9% more expensive to attend than Bethel University for in-state tuition ($54,650.00 vs. $41,110.00)
- Out of state tuition is 32.9% higher at St Olaf than Bethel University ($54,650.00 vs. $41,110.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at St Olaf College than Bethel University ($26,171 vs. $29,915)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 8.4% lower than costs at St Olaf College ($11,490 vs. $12,450)
- More students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College than Bethel University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 64.3% larger than aid received Bethel University ($40,399 vs. $24,586)
Bethel University vs. St Olaf Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bethel University or St Olaf? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St Olaf or Bethel University .
- The average SAT score at St Olaf College (1282) is 155 points higher than at Bethel University (1127)
- Incoming St Olaf students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Bethel University (25)
- Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Bethel University (3.6)
- Bethel University has a higher acceptance rate (72.5%) than St Olaf (56.4%)
Bethel University vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bethel University 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 Bethel University.
- The graduation rate at St Olaf is higher than Bethel University (85% vs. 73%)
- Graduates from St Olaf College earn on average $3,600 more per year than Bethel University graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $50,100)
- Bethel University students graduate with a $2,600 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($24,400 vs. $27,000)
- Bethel University graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($252 vs. $279)
- More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel University 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/