Trinity College vs. St Olaf

Deciding between Trinity College and St Olaf College? 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.

Trinity College
St Olaf College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Trinity College Hartford, CT
  • St Olaf Northfield, MN
  • Setting
  • Trinity College Midsize City
  • St Olaf Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Trinity College 2,238
  • St Olaf 3,124
  • Type
  • Trinity College Private 4 Year
  • St Olaf Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Trinity College #47
  • St Olaf #143
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Trinity College -
  • St Olaf Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • Trinity College Non-profit
  • St Olaf Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Trinity College
  • St Olaf
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Trinity College $70,770
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Trinity College $70,770
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Room & Board
  • Trinity College $18,890
  • St Olaf $13,630
  • Average Net Price
  • Trinity College $36,071
  • St Olaf $26,756
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Trinity College $51,754
  • St Olaf $45,098
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Trinity College 73%
  • St Olaf 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Trinity College 7,460
  • St Olaf 6,623
  • Admitted
  • Trinity College 2,182
  • St Olaf 3,200
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Trinity College 29.2%
  • St Olaf 48.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Trinity College 24.8%
  • St Olaf 26.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Trinity College 1380
  • St Olaf 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Trinity College 32
  • St Olaf 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Trinity College 3.8
  • St Olaf 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Trinity College A-
  • St Olaf A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Trinity College Exceptional
  • St Olaf Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Trinity College High
  • St Olaf Low
  • ACT Range
  • Trinity College 30/34
  • St Olaf 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Trinity College 1298/1470
  • St Olaf 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Trinity College Test optional
  • St Olaf Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Trinity College Jan 17, 2027
  • St Olaf Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Trinity College 9:1
  • St Olaf 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Trinity College
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • St Olaf
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Trinity College 86%
  • St Olaf 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Trinity College $71,500
  • St Olaf $53,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Trinity College 81%
  • St Olaf 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Trinity College $21,000
  • St Olaf $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Trinity College $217
  • St Olaf $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Trinity College 47%
  • St Olaf 42%
  • % Women
  • Trinity College 53%
  • St Olaf 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Trinity College Medium
  • St Olaf Low
  • HBCU
  • Trinity College No
  • St Olaf No
  • % White
  • Trinity College 65%
  • St Olaf 75%
  • % Asian
  • Trinity College 4%
  • St Olaf 6%
  • % Black
  • Trinity College 6%
  • St Olaf 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Trinity College 7%
  • St Olaf 5%
  • % Native American
  • Trinity College 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Trinity College 0%
  • St Olaf 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Trinity College 3%
  • St Olaf 4%
  • % International
  • Trinity College 10%
  • St Olaf 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Trinity College 5%
  • St Olaf 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Trinity College 15%
  • St Olaf 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Trinity College 73%
  • St Olaf 42%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Trinity College in Hartford, CT with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

St Olaf College is larger than Trinity College based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 2,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Trinity College is located in Hartford, CT (Midsize City setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Trinity College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Trinity College 9:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Trinity College vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Trinity College or St Olaf? 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 Trinity College ($26,756 vs. $36,071).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 27.8% lower than at Trinity College ($13,630 vs. $18,890).
  • Trinity College is 18.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than St Olaf (about $11,010 more per year; $70,770.00 vs. $59,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.4% higher at Trinity College than at St Olaf College (about $11,010 more per year; $70,770.00 vs. $59,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Trinity College (100% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Trinity College students is 14.8% larger than aid received by St Olaf College students ($51,754 vs. $45,098).

Trinity College vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 10 points higher than at Trinity College (1380).
  • Incoming Trinity College 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: Trinity College 1298/1470; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Trinity College 30/34; St Olaf College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Trinity College - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Trinity College Jan 17, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Trinity College students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
  • St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (48.3%) than Trinity College (29.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.8% at Trinity College vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Trinity College vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Trinity College and St Olaf? 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).

  • Trinity College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than St Olaf College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Trinity College earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,500 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Trinity College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($21,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Trinity College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($217 vs. $279).
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trinity College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.