SCU vs. St Olaf

Deciding between Santa Clara 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.

Santa Clara University
St Olaf College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • St Olaf Northfield, MN
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • St Olaf Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • St Olaf 3,124
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • St Olaf Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • St Olaf #143
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • St Olaf Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • St Olaf Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • St Olaf

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • St Olaf $13,630
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • St Olaf $26,756
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • St Olaf $45,098
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • St Olaf 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • St Olaf 6,623
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • St Olaf 3,200
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • St Olaf 48.3%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • St Olaf 26.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • St Olaf 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • St Olaf 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • St Olaf 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • St Olaf A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • St Olaf Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • St Olaf Low
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • St Olaf 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • St Olaf 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • St Olaf Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • St Olaf Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • St Olaf 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • St Olaf
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • St Olaf 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • St Olaf $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • St Olaf 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • St Olaf $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • St Olaf $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • St Olaf 42%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • St Olaf 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • St Olaf Low
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • St Olaf No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • St Olaf 75%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • St Olaf 6%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • St Olaf 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • St Olaf 5%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • St Olaf 4%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • St Olaf 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • St Olaf 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • St Olaf 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • St Olaf 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 3,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

SCU vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU 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 SCU ($26,756 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 31.5% lower than at Santa Clara University ($13,630 vs. $19,893).
  • Santa Clara University is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than St Olaf (about $1,533 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $59,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at SCU than at St Olaf College (about $1,533 more per year; $61,293.00 vs. $59,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Santa Clara University (100% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 59% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($45,098 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU 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 SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Santa Clara University (1420) is 30 points higher than at St Olaf (1390).
  • Incoming SCU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at St Olaf).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; St Olaf College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (48.3%) than SCU (48%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

SCU vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU 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).

  • The graduation rate at SCU is the same as at St Olaf College (85% vs. 85%).
  • Graduates from Santa Clara University earn a median of about $28,200 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,900 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 84%)

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.