Earlham vs. St Olaf

Comparable Facts

Compare Earlham College in Richmond, IN 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 Earlham based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Earlham College is located in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
• Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Earlham College 7:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Earlham vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham 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 Earlham ($26,756 vs. $27,107).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 2.5% lower than at Earlham College ($13,630 vs. $13,985).
• St Olaf College is 10.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Earlham (about $5,830 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $53,930.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at St Olaf than at Earlham College (about $5,830 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $53,930.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Earlham College as at St Olaf College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 11% larger than aid received by Earlham College students ($45,098 vs. $40,618).

Earlham vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Earlham 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 Earlham.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 190 points higher than at Earlham (1200).
• Incoming St Olaf students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Earlham).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 1110/1290; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 24/33; St Olaf College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Earlham - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Earlham Mar 1, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Earlham (3.67).
• Earlham has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Earlham vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Earlham vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Earlham 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 Earlham College's (66%).
• Graduates from St Olaf College earn a median of about $14,600 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Earlham College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Earlham 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 Earlham students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 75%)

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.