IWU vs. St Olaf

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan 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.

Illinois Wesleyan University
St Olaf College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • St Olaf Northfield, MN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • St Olaf Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • St Olaf 3,124
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • St Olaf Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • St Olaf #143
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • St Olaf Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • St Olaf Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • St Olaf

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • St Olaf $13,630
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • St Olaf $26,756
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • St Olaf $45,098
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • St Olaf 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • St Olaf 6,623
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • St Olaf 3,200
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • St Olaf 48.3%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • St Olaf 26.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • St Olaf 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • St Olaf 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • St Olaf 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • St Olaf A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • St Olaf Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • St Olaf Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • St Olaf 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • St Olaf 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • St Olaf Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • St Olaf Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • St Olaf 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • St Olaf
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • St Olaf 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • St Olaf $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • St Olaf 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • St Olaf $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • St Olaf $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • St Olaf 42%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • St Olaf 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • St Olaf Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • St Olaf No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • St Olaf 75%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • St Olaf 6%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • St Olaf 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • St Olaf 5%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • St Olaf 4%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • St Olaf 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • St Olaf 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • St Olaf 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • St Olaf 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, 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 IWU based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

IWU vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU 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 IWU ($26,756 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 1.9% lower than at St Olaf College ($13,370 vs. $13,630).
  • St Olaf College is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than IWU (about $2,056 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at St Olaf than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $2,056 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at St Olaf College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($45,098 vs. $42,181).

IWU vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IWU 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 IWU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 160 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming St Olaf students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; St Olaf College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
  • St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (48.3%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

IWU vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU 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 Illinois Wesleyan University's (82%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, St Olaf College and IWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, St Olaf College and IWU 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 IWU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 87%)

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.