Kalamazoo College vs. St Olaf

Comparable Facts

Compare Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI 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 Kalamazoo College based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 1,166 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kalamazoo College is located in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
• Kalamazoo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kalamazoo College 10:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Kalamazoo College vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kalamazoo College 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 Kalamazoo College ($26,756 vs. $26,956).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kalamazoo College are 7.9% lower than at St Olaf College ($12,549 vs. $13,630).
• Kalamazoo College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than St Olaf (about $1,290 more per year; $61,050.00 vs. $59,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Kalamazoo College than at St Olaf College (about $1,290 more per year; $61,050.00 vs. $59,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Kalamazoo College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kalamazoo College students is 4.8% larger than aid received by St Olaf College students ($47,252 vs. $45,098).

Kalamazoo College vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kalamazoo College 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 Kalamazoo College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 110 points higher than at Kalamazoo College (1280).
• Incoming St Olaf students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at Kalamazoo College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kalamazoo College 1170/1380; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kalamazoo College 20/29; St Olaf College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kalamazoo College - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Kalamazoo College Jan 15, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Kalamazoo College students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
• Kalamazoo College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.7% at Kalamazoo College vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Kalamazoo College vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kalamazoo College 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 Kalamazoo College's (80%).
• Graduates from Kalamazoo College earn a median of about $700 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,400 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Kalamazoo College graduates have a $550 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($26,450 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Kalamazoo College graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($273 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kalamazoo College students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 81%)

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.