MLC vs. St Olaf

Deciding between Martin Luther College 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.

Martin Luther College
St Olaf College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MLC New Ulm, MN
  • St Olaf Northfield, MN
  • Setting
  • MLC Remote Town
  • St Olaf Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MLC 878
  • St Olaf 3,124
  • Type
  • MLC Private 4 Year
  • St Olaf Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MLC
  • St Olaf #143
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MLC Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
  • St Olaf Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • MLC Non-profit
  • St Olaf Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MLC
  • St Olaf

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MLC $18,120
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MLC $18,120
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Room & Board
  • MLC $7,900
  • St Olaf $13,630
  • Average Net Price
  • MLC $18,974
  • St Olaf $26,756
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MLC $10,276
  • St Olaf $45,098
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MLC 100%
  • St Olaf 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MLC 226
  • St Olaf 6,623
  • Admitted
  • MLC 197
  • St Olaf 3,200
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MLC 87.2%
  • St Olaf 48.3%
  • Enrolled
  • MLC 88.3%
  • St Olaf 26.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MLC 1170
  • St Olaf 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • MLC 24
  • St Olaf 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • MLC 3.56
  • St Olaf 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MLC A-
  • St Olaf A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MLC Average
  • St Olaf Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MLC
  • St Olaf Low
  • ACT Range
  • MLC 22/27
  • St Olaf 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • MLC 1078/1256
  • St Olaf 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MLC Test optional
  • St Olaf Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MLC
  • St Olaf Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MLC 10:1
  • St Olaf 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MLC
    • Education (67%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (33%)
  • St Olaf
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MLC 73%
  • St Olaf 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MLC $38,000
  • St Olaf $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MLC 89%
  • St Olaf 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MLC $23,125
  • St Olaf $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MLC $239
  • St Olaf $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MLC 44%
  • St Olaf 42%
  • % Women
  • MLC 56%
  • St Olaf 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MLC Extremely Low
  • St Olaf Low
  • HBCU
  • MLC No
  • St Olaf No
  • % White
  • MLC 93%
  • St Olaf 75%
  • % Asian
  • MLC 1%
  • St Olaf 6%
  • % Black
  • MLC 1%
  • St Olaf 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • MLC 1%
  • St Olaf 5%
  • % Native American
  • MLC 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MLC 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MLC 1%
  • St Olaf 4%
  • % International
  • MLC 2%
  • St Olaf 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MLC 0%
  • St Olaf 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MLC 16%
  • St Olaf 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MLC 80%
  • St Olaf 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN 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 MLC based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 878 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Martin Luther College is located in New Ulm, MN (Remote Town setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Martin Luther College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Martin Luther College 10:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

MLC vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MLC 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 Martin Luther College than St Olaf ($18,974 vs. $26,756).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Martin Luther College are 42% lower than at St Olaf College ($7,900 vs. $13,630).
  • St Olaf College is 229.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MLC (about $41,640 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $18,120.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 229.8% higher at St Olaf than at Martin Luther College (about $41,640 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $18,120.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Martin Luther College as at St Olaf College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 338.9% larger than aid received by Martin Luther College students ($45,098 vs. $10,276).

MLC vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MLC 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 MLC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 220 points higher than at MLC (1170).
  • Incoming St Olaf students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at MLC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Martin Luther College 1078/1256; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Martin Luther College 22/27; St Olaf College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MLC - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at MLC (3.56).
  • MLC has a higher acceptance rate (87.2%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at MLC vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

MLC vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MLC 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 Martin Luther College's (73%).
  • Graduates from St Olaf College earn a median of about $15,700 more per year than MLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Martin Luther College graduates have a $3,875 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($23,125 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MLC graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($239 vs. $279).
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MLC students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 89%)

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.