Michigan Tech vs. St Olaf

Should I go to Michigan Technological University or St Olaf College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan Tech or St Olaf is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Michigan Technological University vs. St Olaf College comparison
Michigan Technological University St Olaf College College 3 College 4
Michigan Technological University St Olaf College
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Overview

Michigan Tech St Olaf
Location Houghton, MI Northfield, MN
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 7,063 3,046
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #293 #156
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtu.edu stolaf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Michigan Tech St Olaf
Tuition (In State) $17,296 $54,650
Tuition (Out of State) $39,256 $54,650
Room & Board $12,058 $12,450
Avg Net Price $18,235 $26,171
Avg Grant Aid $16,114 $40,399
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Michigan Tech St Olaf
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,893 5,524
Admitted 7,394 3,116
Acceptance Rate 93.7% 56.4%
Enrolled % 18.8% 27.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.78 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/31 28/33
SAT Range 1130/1350 1300/1480
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Michigan Tech St Olaf
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (56%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (4%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Mathematics (8%)

Outcomes

Michigan Tech St Olaf
Graduation Rate 65% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,000 $53,700
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,900 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $278 $279

Diversity

Michigan Tech St Olaf
% Men 70% 42%
% Women 30% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 75%
% Black 1% 2%
% Hispanic 2% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 4% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Michigan Tech St Olaf
% In-State 76% 47%
% Out-of-State 24% 43%

Campus

Michigan Tech St Olaf
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Michigan Technological University is larger than than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (7,063 students vs. 3,046 students)

Michigan Tech vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan Tech or St Olaf?

  • St Olaf College is 216% more expensive to attend than Michigan Tech for in-state tuition ($54,650.00 vs. $17,296.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.2% higher at St Olaf than Michigan Technological University ($54,650.00 vs. $39,256.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Michigan Technological University than St Olaf ($18,235 vs. $26,171)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan Technological University are 3.3% lower than costs at St Olaf College ($12,058 vs. $12,450)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Michigan Technological University than St Olaf College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 150.7% larger than aid received Michigan Technological University ($40,399 vs. $16,114)

Michigan Tech vs. St Olaf Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan Tech or St Olaf? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St Olaf or Michigan Tech .

  • The average SAT score at St Olaf College (1282) is 75 points higher than at Michigan Tech (1207)
  • Incoming St Olaf students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Michigan Tech (27)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan Tech students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at St Olaf (3.68)
  • Michigan Tech has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than St Olaf (56.4%)

Michigan Tech vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan Tech or St Olaf? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between St Olaf and Michigan Tech.

  • The graduation rate at St Olaf is higher than Michigan Technological University (85% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Michigan Technological University earn on average $12,300 more per year than St Olaf graduates after ten years. ($66,000 vs. $53,700)
  • Michigan Technological University students graduate with a $100 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($26,900 vs. $27,000)
  • Michigan Tech graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($278 vs. $279)
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan Tech students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/