St Olaf vs. The College of Saint Scholastica

Comparable Facts

Compare St Olaf College in Northfield, MN with The College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

St Olaf College is larger than The College of Saint Scholastica based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 2,930 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St Olaf College is located in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting); The College of Saint Scholastica is in Duluth, MN (Small City setting).
• St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The College of Saint Scholastica is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St Olaf College 11:1; The College of Saint Scholastica 12:1.

St Olaf vs. The College of Saint Scholastica Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St Olaf or The College of Saint Scholastica? 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 The College of Saint Scholastica than St Olaf ($26,083 vs. $26,756).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of Saint Scholastica are 13.2% lower than at St Olaf College ($11,830 vs. $13,630).
• St Olaf College is 43% more expensive for in-state tuition than The College of Saint Scholastica (about $17,982 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $41,778.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43% higher at St Olaf than at The College of Saint Scholastica (about $17,982 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $41,778.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at The College of Saint Scholastica (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 57.9% larger than aid received by The College of Saint Scholastica students ($45,098 vs. $28,555).

St Olaf vs. The College of Saint Scholastica Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St Olaf or The College of Saint Scholastica? 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 The College of Saint Scholastica and St Olaf.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 180 points higher than at The College of Saint Scholastica (1210).
• Incoming St Olaf students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at The College of Saint Scholastica).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Olaf College 1300/1470; The College of Saint Scholastica 1110/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Olaf College 28/32; The College of Saint Scholastica 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St Olaf - Test optional; The College of Saint Scholastica - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at The College of Saint Scholastica (3.5).
• The College of Saint Scholastica has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.8% at St Olaf vs. 16.9% at The College of Saint Scholastica.

St Olaf vs. The College of Saint Scholastica Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St Olaf and The College of Saint Scholastica? 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 The College of Saint Scholastica's (63%).
• Graduates from The College of Saint Scholastica earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,800 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of Saint Scholastica graduates have a $5,846 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($21,154 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, The College of Saint Scholastica graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($218 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The College of Saint Scholastica students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 71%)

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.