Wartburg College vs. St Olaf

Comparable Facts

Compare Wartburg College in Waverly, IA 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 Wartburg College based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 1,483 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wartburg College is located in Waverly, IA (Distant Town setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
• Wartburg College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wartburg College 13:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Wartburg College vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wartburg 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 Wartburg College than St Olaf ($24,031 vs. $26,756).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wartburg College are 13.8% lower than at St Olaf College ($11,750 vs. $13,630).
• St Olaf College is 127.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wartburg College (about $33,510 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $26,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 127.7% higher at St Olaf than at Wartburg College (about $33,510 more per year; $59,760.00 vs. $26,250.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Wartburg College (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Wartburg College students ($45,098 vs. $40,336).

Wartburg College vs. St Olaf Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wartburg 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 Wartburg College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St Olaf College (1390) is 320 points higher than at Wartburg College (1070).
• Incoming St Olaf students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at Wartburg College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 930/1200; St Olaf College 1300/1470.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wartburg College 21/27; St Olaf College 28/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wartburg College - Test optional; St Olaf - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Wartburg College (3.48).
• Wartburg College has a higher acceptance rate (75.8%) than St Olaf (48.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.6% at Wartburg College vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Wartburg College vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wartburg 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).

• St Olaf College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Wartburg College's (63%).
• Graduates from St Olaf College earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Wartburg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $48,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St Olaf College and Wartburg College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, St Olaf College and Wartburg College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wartburg 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.