Iowa vs. St Olaf

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Iowa is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (30,779 students vs. 3,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, IA (Small City setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
• University of Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Iowa 16:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Iowa vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa 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 University of Iowa than St Olaf ($21,765 vs. $26,756).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 5.2% lower than at St Olaf College ($12,920 vs. $13,630).
• St Olaf College is 429.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa (about $48,477 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $11,283.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 79.1% higher at St Olaf than at University of Iowa (about $26,389 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $33,371.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at University of Iowa (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 357.2% larger than aid received by University of Iowa students ($45,098 vs. $9,865).

Iowa vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa 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 Iowa.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 160 points higher than at Iowa (1230).
• Incoming St Olaf students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at Iowa).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 1130/1330; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 21/28; St Olaf College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Iowa - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Iowa May 1, 2027; St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at St Olaf (3.68).
• Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (83.6%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at Iowa vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Iowa vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa 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).

• St Olaf College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of Iowa's (71%).
• Graduates from University of Iowa earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than St Olaf graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Iowa graduates have a $5,384 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($21,616 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Iowa graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($223 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 70%)

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.