St Olaf vs. Lewis and Clark

Comparable Facts

Compare St Olaf College in Northfield, MN with Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lewis & Clark College is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (3,504 students vs. 3,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St Olaf College is located in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting); Lewis & Clark College is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lewis & Clark College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St Olaf College 11:1; Lewis & Clark College 12:1.

St Olaf vs. Lewis and Clark Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St Olaf or Lewis and Clark? 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 Lewis and Clark ($26,756 vs. $37,999).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 12.9% lower than at Lewis & Clark College ($13,630 vs. $15,648).
• Lewis & Clark College is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than St Olaf (about $5,068 more per year; $64,828.00 vs. $59,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at Lewis and Clark than at St Olaf College (about $5,068 more per year; $64,828.00 vs. $59,760.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College as at Lewis & Clark College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 7.3% larger than aid received by Lewis & Clark College students ($45,098 vs. $42,021).

St Olaf vs. Lewis and Clark Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 90 points higher than at Lewis and Clark (1300).
• Incoming St Olaf students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Lewis and Clark).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Olaf College 1300/1470; Lewis & Clark College 1210/1390.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Olaf College 28/32; Lewis & Clark College 28/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St Olaf - Test optional; Lewis and Clark - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027; Lewis and Clark Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lewis and Clark students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
• Lewis and Clark has a higher acceptance rate (78.5%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.8% at St Olaf vs. 9.7% at Lewis and Clark.

St Olaf vs. Lewis and Clark Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St Olaf and Lewis and Clark? 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 Lewis & Clark College's (73%).
• Graduates from St Olaf College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Lewis and Clark graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $50,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lewis & Clark College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($24,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Lewis and Clark graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($253 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lewis and Clark students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 82%)

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.