St Olaf vs. Denison

Comparable Facts

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

St Olaf College is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St Olaf College is located in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
• St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St Olaf College 11:1; Denison University 9:1.

St Olaf vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St Olaf or Denison? 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 Denison ($26,756 vs. $43,721).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 16.9% lower than at Denison University ($13,630 vs. $16,400).
• Denison University is 12.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than St Olaf (about $7,240 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $59,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Denison than at St Olaf College (about $7,240 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $59,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Denison University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 18.1% larger than aid received by Denison University students ($45,098 vs. $38,179).

St Olaf vs. Denison Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St Olaf or Denison? 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 Denison and St Olaf.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 20 points higher than at St Olaf (1390).
• Incoming Denison students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at St Olaf).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Olaf College 1300/1470; Denison University 1320/1490.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Olaf College 28/32; Denison University 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St Olaf - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027; Denison Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
• St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (48.3%) than Denison (17.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.8% at St Olaf vs. 23.8% at Denison.

St Olaf vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St Olaf and Denison? 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 Denison University's (79%).
• Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Denison University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Denison graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Denison students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 83%)

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.