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Carleton College Macalester College Lawrence University of St Thomas Minnesota Whitman College Oberlin Denison Wooster Minnesota State University-Mankato University of Minnesota-Duluth Luther- Norse| Saint Cloud State University | St Olaf College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
St. Cloud State University | St Olaf | ||
| Location | Saint Cloud, MN | Northfield, MN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 10,514 | 3,074 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #622 | #161 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | stcloudstate.edu | stolaf.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
St. Cloud State University | St Olaf | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,811 | $56,970 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,811 | $56,970 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,630 | $13,000 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,648 | $27,282 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,348 | $41,918 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 100% |
Admission |
St. Cloud State University | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,026 | 5,956 | ||
| Admitted | 4,772 | 3,106 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 94.9% | 52.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.8% | 26.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.4 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 970/1280 | 1260/1470 | ||
| 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 | Aug 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
St. Cloud State University | St Olaf | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
St. Cloud State University | St Olaf | ||
| Graduation Rate | 48% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,700 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 91% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $279 |
Diversity |
St. Cloud State University | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
St. Cloud State University | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 75% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 11% | 43% | ||
Campus |
St. Cloud State University | St Olaf | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Saint Cloud State University is larger than than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (10,514 students vs. 3,074 students)
St. Cloud State University vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, St. Cloud State University or St Olaf?
- St Olaf College is 546.6% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($56,970.00 vs. $8,811.00)
- Out of state tuition is 546.6% higher at St Olaf than Saint Cloud State University ($56,970.00 vs. $8,811.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than St Olaf ($14,648 vs. $27,282)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 35% lower than costs at St Olaf College ($9,630 vs. $13,000)
- More students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College than Saint Cloud State University (100% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 470.5% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($41,918 vs. $7,348)
St. Cloud State University vs. St Olaf Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, St. Cloud State University or St Olaf? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St Olaf or St. Cloud State University .
- The average SAT score at St Olaf College (1282) is 252 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
- Incoming St Olaf students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
- Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
- St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than St Olaf (52.1%)
St. Cloud State University vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, St. Cloud State University 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 St. Cloud State University.
- The graduation rate at St Olaf is higher than Saint Cloud State University (85% vs. 48%)
- Graduates from St Olaf College earn on average $7,000 more per year than St. Cloud State University graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $46,700)
- Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($22,500 vs. $27,000)
- St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($232 vs. $279)
- More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/