St Olaf vs. Carroll University

Should I go to St Olaf College or Carroll University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if St Olaf or Carroll University 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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St Olaf College vs. Carroll University comparison
St Olaf College Carroll University College 3 College 4
St Olaf College
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Overview

St Olaf Carroll University
Location Northfield, MN Waukesha, WI
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 3,046 3,283
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #156 #534
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stolaf.edu carrollu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

St Olaf Carroll University
Tuition (In State) $54,650 $35,360
Tuition (Out of State) $54,650 $35,360
Room & Board $12,450 $11,564
Avg Net Price $26,171 $25,485
Avg Grant Aid $40,399 $23,933
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

St Olaf Carroll University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,524 4,728
Admitted 3,116 3,411
Acceptance Rate 56.4% 72.1%
Enrolled % 27.9% 19.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.39
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/33 22/28
SAT Range 1300/1480 1060/1340
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

St Olaf Carroll University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Mathematics (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

St Olaf Carroll University
Graduation Rate 85% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,700 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

St Olaf Carroll University
% Men 42% 32%
% Women 58% 68%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 83%
% Black 2% 1%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

St Olaf Carroll University
% In-State 47% 66%
% Out-of-State 43% 30%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Carroll University is larger than than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (3,283 students vs. 3,046 students)

St Olaf vs. Carroll University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St Olaf or Carroll University?

  • St Olaf College is 54.6% more expensive to attend than Carroll University for in-state tuition ($54,650.00 vs. $35,360.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.6% higher at St Olaf than Carroll University ($54,650.00 vs. $35,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carroll University than St Olaf ($25,485 vs. $26,171)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carroll University are 7.7% lower than costs at St Olaf College ($11,564 vs. $12,450)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carroll University than St Olaf College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 68.8% larger than aid received Carroll University ($40,399 vs. $23,933)

St Olaf vs. Carroll University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at St Olaf College (1282) is 195 points higher than at Carroll University (1087)
  • Incoming St Olaf students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Carroll University (24)
  • Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Carroll University (3.39)
  • Carroll University has a higher acceptance rate (72.1%) than St Olaf (56.4%)

St Olaf vs. Carroll University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St Olaf or Carroll University? 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 Carroll University and St Olaf.

  • The graduation rate at St Olaf is higher than Carroll University (85% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from St Olaf College earn on average $9,500 more per year than Carroll University graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $44,200)
  • Carroll University and St Olaf graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Carroll University and St Olaf graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carroll University students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 74%)

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