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St Olaf College
About 48 in 100 applicants get into St Olaf College — solidly within reach for students near the ranges below.
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St Olaf College anchors the college town of Northfield, MN, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. The school maintains its Evangelical Lutheran Church affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $122,912 four years out. Faculty pay averages $110,616 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 3,093 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 92.2% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1260 and 1470 — above the MN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on St Olaf College's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to St Olaf College without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1260 and 1470; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 640 | 680 | 740 |
| SAT Math | 620 | 670 | 730 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 30 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, St Olaf College received 5,956 applications and admitted 3,106 (52.1%), with 825 enrolling.
How St Olaf College compares
| St Olaf College | Minnesota median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 48.3% | 85.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $59,760 | $22,520 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $65,543 | $58,351 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median St Olaf College student earns $65,543 — 12% above the Minnesota median of $58,351 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
St Olaf College lists tuition at $59,760 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. St Olaf College's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $59,760 as the ceiling, not the bill.
St Olaf College enrolls 3,093 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs St Olaf College's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
84% of St Olaf College students finish a bachelor's within six years — 29.1 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $59,760 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at St Olaf College
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $122,912 |
| Mathematics | $87,691 |
| Economics | $84,559 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $66,314 |
| Biology, General | $62,818 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | $60,225 |
| Political Science and Government | $57,869 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $56,282 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $54,100 |
| Psychology, General | $53,666 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $53,232 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $51,909 |
| Social Work | $50,611 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $49,382 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $48,137 |
| Area Studies | $47,677 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $45,023 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,287 |
| History | $42,538 |
| Music | $42,439 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $37,335 |
Median earnings for these 21 St Olaf College programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $65,543 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 15 additional St Olaf College programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for St Olaf College?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1260–1470 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 48.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is St Olaf College's acceptance rate?
52.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 3,106 admitted from 5,956 applicants.
How much does St Olaf College cost?
At St Olaf College, published tuition is $59,760 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is St Olaf College's ceiling, not a quote.
What do St Olaf College graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $65,543 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Minnesota
- Minnesota State University Moorhead — 58.8% admitted
- Minneapolis College of Art and Design — 48.5% admitted
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science — 39% admitted
- Bethany Lutheran College — 39% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.