St Olaf vs. Lehigh

Deciding between St Olaf College and Lehigh University? 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.

St Olaf College
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • St Olaf Northfield, MN
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • St Olaf Distant Town
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • St Olaf 3,124
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • St Olaf Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • St Olaf #143
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • St Olaf Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • St Olaf Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • St Olaf
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • St Olaf $13,630
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • St Olaf $26,756
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • St Olaf $45,098
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • St Olaf 100%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • St Olaf 6,623
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • St Olaf 3,200
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • St Olaf 48.3%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • St Olaf 26.8%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • St Olaf 1390
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • St Olaf 30
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • St Olaf 3.68
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • St Olaf A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • St Olaf Very High
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • St Olaf Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • St Olaf 28/32
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • St Olaf 1300/1470
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • St Olaf Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • St Olaf Jan 15, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • St Olaf 11:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • St Olaf
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • St Olaf 85%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • St Olaf $53,700
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • St Olaf 91%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • St Olaf $27,000
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • St Olaf $279
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • St Olaf 42%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • St Olaf 58%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • St Olaf Low
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • St Olaf No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • St Olaf 75%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • St Olaf 6%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • St Olaf 2%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • St Olaf 5%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • St Olaf 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • St Olaf 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • St Olaf 4%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • St Olaf 7%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • St Olaf 1%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • St Olaf 44%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • St Olaf 42%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Lehigh University is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 3,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • St Olaf College is located in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: St Olaf College 11:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

St Olaf vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St Olaf or Lehigh? 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 Lehigh ($26,756 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 20.8% lower than at Lehigh University ($13,630 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than St Olaf (about $5,220 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $59,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at Lehigh than at St Olaf College (about $5,220 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $59,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Lehigh University (100% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 3.6% larger than aid received by St Olaf College students ($46,731 vs. $45,098).

St Olaf vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 50 points higher than at St Olaf (1390).
  • Incoming Lehigh 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: St Olaf College 1300/1470; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Olaf College 28/32; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St Olaf - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
  • St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (48.3%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.8% at St Olaf vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

St Olaf vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St Olaf and Lehigh? 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).

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than St Olaf College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $35,500 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $2,744 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($24,256 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($250 vs. $279).
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lehigh students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 89%)

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.