St Olaf vs. Marquette University

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

St Olaf Marquette University
Location Northfield, MN Milwaukee, WI
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 3,074 11,373
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #161 #219
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stolaf.edu marquette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

St Olaf Marquette University
Tuition (In State) $56,970 $47,690
Tuition (Out of State) $56,970 $47,690
Room & Board $13,000 $15,740
Avg Net Price $27,282 $32,031
Avg Grant Aid $41,918 $31,683
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

St Olaf Marquette University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,956 15,636
Admitted 3,106 13,672
Acceptance Rate 52.1% 87.4%
Enrolled % 26.6% 13.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/32 26/31
SAT Range 1260/1470 1190/1360
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, 2026 Dec 1, 2025

Academics

St Olaf Marquette University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Mathematics (8%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

St Olaf Marquette University
Graduation Rate 85% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,700 $67,500
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

St Olaf Marquette University
% Men 0% 12%
% Women 0% 20%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 73%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

St Olaf Marquette University
% In-State 47% 34%
% Out-of-State 43% 65%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Marquette University is larger than than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (11,373 students vs. 3,074 students)

St Olaf vs. Marquette University Cost Comparison

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

  • St Olaf College is 19.5% more expensive to attend than Marquette University for in-state tuition ($56,970.00 vs. $47,690.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.5% higher at St Olaf than Marquette University ($56,970.00 vs. $47,690.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at St Olaf College than Marquette University ($27,282 vs. $32,031)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 21.1% lower than costs at Marquette University ($13,000 vs. $15,740)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College as Marquette University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 32.3% larger than aid received Marquette University ($41,918 vs. $31,683)

St Olaf vs. Marquette University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at St Olaf College (1282) is 63 points higher than at Marquette University (1219)
  • Incoming St Olaf students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Marquette University (27)
  • Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Marquette University (3.56)
  • Marquette University has a higher acceptance rate (87.4%) than St Olaf (52.1%)

St Olaf vs. Marquette University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St Olaf or Marquette 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 Marquette University and St Olaf.

  • The graduation rate at St Olaf is higher than Marquette University (85% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Marquette University earn on average $13,800 more per year than St Olaf graduates after ten years. ($67,500 vs. $53,700)
  • Marquette University and St Olaf graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Marquette 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 Marquette University students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 81%)

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