Overview of St. Olaf College

St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts institution situated in Northfield, Minnesota. The institution has a selection of 85 undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. Students are supported by a 12 to 1 student/faculty ratio, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 3,048 (all undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 43 percent male/57 percent female
• 99 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $49,710
• Books: $1,000
• Room and Board: $11,270
• Other Expenses: $900
• Total Cost: $62,880

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 97 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 97 percent
  • Loans: 58 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $6,488
  • Loans: $9,052

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Visual and Performing Arts; Mathematics and Statistics; and Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 91 percent
• Transfer-Out Rate: 12 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 82 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 86 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Ice Hockey, Skiing-Snowboarding, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball

Overview of St. Olaf College Admissions

St. Olaf College, which accepts just half of the applicants, has a competitive admissions pool. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. This institution has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. Applicants must complete an online application. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices. Students should make a campus visit to determine if the institution is a good fit for them.

Admissions Data                        

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, St. Olaf College had an acceptance rate of 50%. For every 100 students who submitted applications, 50 students gained admission, making St Olaf’s admissions process competitive.

SAT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 35% of students provided SAT scores. This admissions data reveals that most of St. Olaf’s students score within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. 50% of students admitted to St. Olaf scored between 600 and 700 on the evidence-based reading and writing part, while 25% scored under 600 and 25% scored over 700. 50% of students scored between 590 and 710 on the math part, while 25% scored under 590, and 25% scored over 710. Applicants with a cumulative SAT score of 1410 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at St. Olaf College.

ACT Requirements and Scores

During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 74% of students provided ACT scores. This admissions data reveals that most of St. Olaf’s students score within the top 22% nationally on the ACT. The median 50% of students admitted to St. Olaf received a cumulative ACT score between 25 and 32, while 25% scored over 32, and 25% scored under 25.

GPA

In 2019, the mean high school GPA of St. Olaf College’s freshmen class was 3.62, and over 50% of students had a mean GPA of 3.75 and over. Successful applicants to St. Olaf College have primarily A grades.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for St. Olaf College, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If St. Olaf College is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Texas State University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Georgia State University, Florida Agricultural, and Mechanical University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Texas at El Paaso, California State University Northridge

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for St. Olaf College, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Pace University, University of North Texas, San Jose State University, California State University Long Beach, Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Washington State University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than St. Olaf College. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

University of Cincinnati, Penn State University Park, United States Military Academy, Hofstra University, Auburn University, Temple University, Seton Hall University

Applying to St. Olaf College

Applying to January 15

Application Deadline: Rolling

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/apply/