St Olaf vs. Wooster

Comparable Facts

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

St Olaf College is larger than Wooster based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 1,738 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St Olaf College is located in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting); The College of Wooster is in Wooster, OH (Distant Town setting).
• St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The College of Wooster is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St Olaf College 11:1; The College of Wooster 10:1.

St Olaf vs. Wooster Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St Olaf or Wooster? 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 Wooster ($26,756 vs. $28,004).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 5.9% lower than at The College of Wooster ($13,630 vs. $14,490).
• The College of Wooster is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than St Olaf (about $1,880 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $59,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at Wooster than at St Olaf College (about $1,880 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $59,760.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College as at The College of Wooster (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Wooster students is 5.7% larger than aid received by St Olaf College students ($47,672 vs. $45,098).

St Olaf vs. Wooster Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 50 points higher than at Wooster (1340).
• Incoming St Olaf students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Wooster (30).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Olaf College 1300/1470; The College of Wooster 1220/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St Olaf College 28/32; The College of Wooster 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St Olaf - Test optional; Wooster - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027; Wooster Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Wooster students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
• Wooster has a higher acceptance rate (59.5%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.8% at St Olaf vs. 11.4% at Wooster.

St Olaf vs. Wooster Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St Olaf and Wooster? 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 Wooster's (75%).
• Graduates from St Olaf College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Wooster graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of Wooster graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Wooster 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 Wooster students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 76%)

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.