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#3 Best Value Colleges in Minnesota

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

 4 Reviews

Overview

Enrollment

3,046
St Olaf College overview
Location Northfield, Minnesota
Online stolaf.edu
School Type Private 4 Year
Setting Distant Town
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church
St Olaf College overview
Size Mid-size
Status Non-profit
On Campus Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad
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St. Olaf College, located in Northfield, Minnesota, approximately 40 miles south of Minneapolis-St. Paul, occupies a hilltop campus known for its distinctive limestone buildings and Nordic architectural influences. Founded in 1874 by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants, the private liberal arts college maintains its Lutheran heritage while operating as an independent institution. The college is recognized for its strong programs in music, natural sciences, and mathematics, with its music department hosting multiple choirs and orchestras that perform internationally. St. Olaf operates on a residential model where most students live on campus in residence halls or college-owned houses, and the campus includes a natural lands area used for environmental research and recreation. The college competes in NCAA Division III athletics as the Oles, while maintaining selective admission standards for its undergraduate-only student body.

Ratings

8/10

Overall

10/10

Academics

8/10

Resources

7/10

Outcomes

10/10

Value

St Olaf is rated within the top 26% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 8 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for St Olaf College within the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.

Getting In

Admission Standards

Elite
St Olaf College overview
SAT 1300/1480
ACT 28/33
GPA 3.68

Applications Accepted

56.4% 
St Olaf College overview
Applications Due Jan 15, 2025
Applicant Competition Average
Application Fee $0

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$54,650
Costs for St Olaf College
Fee Cost
Books and Supplies$1,000
Other Fees$0
Room and Board $12,450
Budget for Other Expenses$900
Total One Year Cost$69,000

Tuition and financial aid details

Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$53,700 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

85% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular subjects studied by St Olaf College students
Subject Percent of Class
Social Sciences 16%
Biology 12%
Visual and Performing Arts 10%
Physical Sciences 8%
Mathematics 8%

View All 45 Majors

Other Colleges to Consider 

Students considering St Olaf are frequently interested in these similar colleges.

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=174844 IPEDS survey data for St Olaf College.

Current students may use the St Olaf College GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.

Last updated February 24, 2024