St Olaf Admission Requirements

8/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Northfield, MN
4.8 4 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Minnesota

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St Olaf Admission Overview

St Olaf admission requirements are competitive. Last year St Olaf admitted 48.3% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen typically had about a 3.68 GPA (A-) and SAT 1300-1470 / ACT 28-32. St Olaf is test-optional, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

St Olaf is test-optional. You choose whether to send SAT or ACT.

Source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

St Olaf Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

48.3%

Admission Standards

Very High

Applicant Competition

Average

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The St Olaf acceptance rate is 48.3%. Last year, 3,200 of 6,623 applicants were admitted. That is the 6th lowest acceptance rate in Minnesota.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into St Olaf and can you get accepted?

St Olaf is a competitive school to get into, turning away a substantial share of applicants. You have a good chance of acceptance if you meet last year's profile.

St Olaf College typically attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.68. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 27% of those admitted chose to enroll.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

St Olaf GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Avg. High School GPA

3.68

Typical High School Grades

A-

Average GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.68

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

Enrolled freshmen at St Olaf typically have around a 3.68 GPA (A-) on a 4.0 scale. That is last year's class average, not a cutoff. Enrolled students typically have very good grades in high school. St Olaf is test-optional. If you withhold SAT or ACT, GPA carries more weight.

The school ranks #6 in Minnesota for highest average GPA.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.7 GPA range.

Competitiveness by GPA Ranges

Share of last year's freshmen in each GPA range, compared with the rest of the class.

High school GPA ranges for enrolled St Olaf College freshmen
High School GPA	Freshmen Within Range	Competitiveness
4.0	13.8%	Good
3.75 to 3.99	37.4%	Avg
3.50 to 3.74	22.7%	Avg -
3.25 to 3.49	15.9%	Reach
3.00 to 3.24	7.0%	Reach
2.50 to 2.99	3.1%	Reach
2.00 to 2.49	0.1%	Low
1.00 to 1.99	0%	Low
less than 1.00	0%	Low

What do these figures mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024

St Olaf SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1300-1470

Freshmen who sent SAT

11%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 660
Math 640
Composite 1300

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 740
Math 730
Composite 1470

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at St Olaf typically score around a 1390 SAT (middle 50% 1300–1470) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 95th percentile nationally. St Olaf ranks #4 in the state of Minnesota and #114 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1300 to 1470

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

SAT policy

St Olaf is test-optional. You choose whether to send SAT. If you send a score, it is considered.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1390 SAT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How SAT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares SAT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. It is not a personal chance of admission. If you withhold SAT, skip this table.

SAT ranges vs last year's enrolled testers at St Olaf College
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1470+	Above 75th	>64%
1390 to 1470	Avg +	49%-64%
1300 to 1390	Avg -	33%-49%
Below 1300	Below mid-50	<33%

What do these figures mean?

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

St Olaf ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

28-32

Freshmen reporting ACT

29%

25th Percentile Scores

English 28
Math 25
Composite 28

75th Percentile Scores

English 35
Math 30
Composite 32

Average ACT

Incoming testers at St Olaf typically have around a 30 ACT (mid-50 28–32) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 93rd percentile of ACT takers nationwide. St Olaf places #3 among colleges in Minnesota and #139 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 28 to 32

1 9 18 27 36

ACT policy

You may apply to St Olaf without ACT. A score you do send is still reviewed.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 30.0 ACT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How ACT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares ACT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. They are not your individual odds. If you leave ACT off your application, you can skip this table.

ACT bands compared with last year's enrolled testers at St Olaf College
ACT Score (36 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
32+	Above 75th	>64%
30 to 32	Avg +	48%-64%
28 to 30	Avg -	33%-48%
Below 28	Below mid-50	<33%

How to read these figures

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

High School Class Rank

Class Rank of Admitted Students

68% of St Olaf College freshman are in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class and 38% are in the top ten percent.

High School Class Rank for admitted St Olaf College students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	38%
Top 25% of class	68%
Top 50% of class	93%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Estimate How You Compare

See how your GPA and scores compare with last year's enrolled testers. You can mark that you will withhold scores.

Open the St Olaf chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

St Olaf College admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	3,490	2,979	6,623
Accepted	1,840	1,268	3,200
Acceptance Rate	53%	43%	48%
Enrolled	489	333	859
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	27%	26%	27%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to St Olaf College and what student information is used for admission decisions?

St Olaf College application requirements
Requirement	Used for Admission
Test Scores	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA	Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations	Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Fall 2027 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 15, 2027

Days left to Apply

137

Applicants have 137 days left until the Fall 2027 term applications are due on Jan 15, 2027.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to St Olaf College is $0. The school is free to apply to.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Credits Accepted

High school credits accepted at St Olaf College
Credit Type	Accepted
AP Credit	Yes
Dual Credit	Yes
Credit for Life Experiences	No

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Admission summary

St Olaf is test-optional for 2024-25. Last year it admitted 48.3% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen typically had about a 3.68 GPA (about an A- average). Send SAT/ACT if you are at or above this campus mid-50 (1300-1470); otherwise withhold. Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025