Saint Olaf College, founded in 1874, is a private, church-affiliated, liberal arts college. Two thirds of its student body participates in international study programs, and approximately one third of students participate in musical organizations. It also offers special academic programs, such as the Great Conversation Program. Its internationally acclaimed St. Olaf choir, band and orchestra go on at least one major U.S. tour each year and perform internationally every few years. Its 350-acre campus, including several buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, is located in Northfield, 45 miles south of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

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collegeType
Private
studentType
Coed
3,027
Undergraduates
1,226
Men - 40.5%
1,708
Women - 56.4%
Admissions iconAdmissions
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Admissions iconAdmissions
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Entrance Difficulty
Very difficult
Overall Admission Rate
48% of 6,623 applicants were admitted
Early Action Offered
Yes
Early Decision Offered
Yes
Regular Admission Deadline
January 15
Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen
Average GPA
3.73
SAT Math
680 average
640-730 range of middle 50%
SAT EBRW
700 average
660-740 range of middle 50%
ACT Composite
30 average
28-32 range of middle 50%
Financials iconFinancials
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Financials iconFinancials
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Cost of Attendance
$79,500
Tuition and Fees
$62,700
Average Percent of Need Met
99%
Average Freshman Award
$58,276
Average Indebtedness of 2024 Graduates
$28,377
Academics iconAcademics
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Academics iconAcademics
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Academic Calendar System
4-1-4
General Education/Core Curriculum
Required for most or all students
Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates
231
Regular Class Size (Students)
2-9
6%
10-19
34%
20-29
48%
30-39
7%
40-49
3%
50-99
2%
Campus life iconCampus Life
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Campus life iconCampus Life
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Northfield Population
20,756
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Minneapolis - St. Paul
Freshman Housing Guarantee
College offers housing to students
Students in College Housing
99% of all students
Athletic Conferences
NCAA Division III
Mascot
Lion
Sororities
Not reported
Fraternities
Not reported
Students iconStudents
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Students iconStudents
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Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
American Indian/Alaskan Native
0.1%
Asian
5.5%
Black/African-American
3.5%
Hispanic/Latino
10.8%
Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
5.1%
White
74.6%
Unknown
0.4%
International Students
10.4% from 101 countries
First-Year Students Returning
92.2%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
77.6%
Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
70%
Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
18.0%
Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid data displayed on CollegeData’s college profiles is from the 2024-25 academic year.
A portion of the College Profile data is provided under license by:
Peterson's Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid Databases, copyright © 2025 Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.