ISU vs. St Olaf

Deciding between Iowa State 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.

Iowa State University
St Olaf College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • St Olaf Northfield, MN
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • St Olaf Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • St Olaf 3,124
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • St Olaf Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • St Olaf #143
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • St Olaf Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • St Olaf Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • St Olaf

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • St Olaf $13,630
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • St Olaf $26,756
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • St Olaf $45,098
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • St Olaf 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • St Olaf 6,623
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • St Olaf 3,200
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • St Olaf 48.3%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • St Olaf 26.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • St Olaf 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • St Olaf 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • St Olaf 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • St Olaf A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • St Olaf Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • St Olaf Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • St Olaf 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • St Olaf 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • St Olaf Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • St Olaf Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • St Olaf 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • St Olaf
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • St Olaf 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • St Olaf $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • St Olaf 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • St Olaf $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • St Olaf $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • St Olaf 42%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • St Olaf 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • St Olaf Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • St Olaf No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • St Olaf 75%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • St Olaf 6%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • St Olaf 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • St Olaf 5%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • St Olaf 4%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • St Olaf 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • St Olaf 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • St Olaf 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • St Olaf 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 3,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

ISU vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU 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 Iowa State University than St Olaf ($17,779 vs. $26,756).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 20.7% lower than at St Olaf College ($10,808 vs. $13,630).
  • St Olaf College is 454% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $48,973 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 106.9% higher at St Olaf than at Iowa State University (about $30,879 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Iowa State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 317.9% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($45,098 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU 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 ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 150 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming St Olaf students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; St Olaf College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

ISU vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU 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 Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates of Iowa State University and St Olaf have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $53,700), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Iowa State University graduates have a $3,132 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($23,868 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($246 vs. $279).
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 74%)

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.