St. Olaf doesn't produce ordinary college grads. It turns out Oles (Oh-Lees). St. Olaf's 3,000 students come from 95 countries, nearly every state, and a variety of religious and non-religious backgrounds. Oles choose from more than 85 majors, concentrations, and pre-professional tracks within the intense liberal arts academic program. The long-standing emphasis on global engagement broadens perspectives, and two-thirds of Oles study abroad. Oles aren't necessarily religious, but the college's religious tradition encourages deep self-reflection. Over 200 organizations flourish within an intensely residential setting. The vibrant Ole community accepts, supports, and encourages, generating lifelong friendships and invaluable connections. St. Olaf's beautiful 300-acre campus is located in Northfield, Minnesota, approximately 40 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Contact
Marie New
Director of Enrollment Operations
Director of Enrollment Operations
Address
Office of Admissions
1520 St. Olaf Ave.
Northfield, MN 55057
1520 St. Olaf Ave.
Northfield, MN 55057
Phone
Ph: 800-800-3025
Email
admissions@stolaf.edu
Experience College Life
Most Popular Places On Campus
Fireside Lounge, Buntrock Commons
The Lion's Pause (student-run nightclub and pizzeria)
Tostrud and Skoglund Recreational Center and Ice Arena
Holland Hall (top floor!)
The Cage, Buntrock Commons (cafe with the best cookies)
The Lion's Pause (student-run nightclub and pizzeria)
Tostrud and Skoglund Recreational Center and Ice Arena
Holland Hall (top floor!)
The Cage, Buntrock Commons (cafe with the best cookies)
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Historic downtown Northfield
Live theater at the Guthrie or Ordway in the Twin Cities
Multitude of concert venues in the Twin Cities
Any of the 4 professional sports arenas in the Twin Cities
Mall of America
Live theater at the Guthrie or Ordway in the Twin Cities
Multitude of concert venues in the Twin Cities
Any of the 4 professional sports arenas in the Twin Cities
Mall of America
Campus Tours
Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews
Yes
Information Sessions
Available
Times
Varies
Faculty and Coach Visits
Dates/Times Available
Year-round
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Advance Notice
1 week
Contact Email Address for Visit
visit@stolaf.edu
Class Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available
Transportation
Types of Transportation Available to Campus
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport is 35 miles from campus. Please contact the admissions office for information regarding transportation options from the airport to campus.
Driving Instructions to Campus
From Interstate 35 (nearest four-lane thoroughfare) take Exit 69 to Highway 19 East. The main entrance to the campus is five miles east of the interstate via Highway 19. Look for a stone marker on your left as you enter Northfield city limits. You also may reach the campus via St. Olaf Avenue which intersects with Highway 3 in Northfield.
Local Accommodations
https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/arriving-on-campus/
Save School
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
We're looking for smart, ambitious, creative people who want to be challenged. We want multifaceted people who will contribute to, as much as draw from, our campus community.
The students who thrive at St. Olaf have a strong sense of themselves, whether or not they arrive here with a clear idea of what they will study. Our students have varied talents and interests, from arts to athletics to languages. They have differing learning styles, and find that St. Olaf balances deep academic focus in a singular field with broad interdisciplinary study.
Application Cycles
Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision
Application Process
Part One: Begin by completing Part One on the St. Olaf College website at go.stolaf.edu/PartOne.
Part Two: Continue by submitting the Common Application or Coalition Application.
Links for both applications can be found at go.stolaf.edu/apply.
The following materials need to be provided in Part Two:
- The Common Application or the Coalition Application
- High school transcript
- Teacher recommendation
- One letter of recommendation from a teacher in a core academic subject.
- ACT or SAT test scores (Optional)
- We accept unofficial test scores; however, students would need to provide the official scores before enrolling
Deadlines:
- Early Decision 1: November 15
- Early Action: November 15
- Early Decision 2: January 15
- Regular Decision: January 15
Go.stolaf.edu/apply
Overview
Applicants: 5,229
Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average HS GPA: 3.68
GPA Breakdown
40%
Over 3.75
25%
3.50 - 3.74
16%
3.25 - 3.49
6%
3.00 - 3.24
2%
2.50 - 2.99
1%
2.00 - 2.49
Need to boost your grades? We can help.
Learn MoreSAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
580 - 690
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
570 - 700
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
25 - 32
Testing Policies
Yes
Yes
ACT Writing Policy
ACT with or without Writing accepted
SAT Essay Policy
SAT with or without Writing accepted
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 15
Early Decision II — January 8
Early Action — November 15
Regular — January 15
Other Admission Factors
Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Application Essay
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
Conversation is at the heart of a St. Olaf education. We want students to develop the ability to listen carefully, argue forcefully, and be the kind of engaged thinker who makes a conversation more interesting. St. Olaf's signature Conversation programs are interdisciplinary, team-taught explorations that take students on five distinct intellectual journeys through influential texts and ideas that have shaped our past and will guide our future. Learn more about our Conversation programs and Learning Communities
Majors and Degrees Offered
St. Olaf will challenge you with the breadth and depth of a rigorous liberal arts education. Within your major, professors will expect you to master the discipline, demonstrate your knowledge, and see the connections between big ideas. We offer a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degree.
Majors Offered:
Ancient Studies, Art History, Art (Studio), Asian Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Chinese, Classics, Computer Science, Dance, Education, Economics, English, Environmental Studies, Exercise Science, French, German, Greek, History, Japanese, Latin, Latin American Studies, Mathematics, Medieval Studies, Music, Church Music (Bachelor of Music), Music (Bachelor of Arts), Music Education (Bachelor of Music), Elective Studies (Bachelor of Music), Performance (Bachelor of Music), Composition (Bachelor of Music), Norwegian, Nursing, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Race and Ethnic Studies, Religion, Russian, Russian Area Studies, Social Studies Education, Social Work, Sociology/Anthropology, Spanish, Theater, Women's and Gender Studies Concentrations (St. Olaf's version of a minor):
Africa and the African Diaspora.
Asian Studies, Biomolecular Science, Data Science, Engineering Studies, Environmental Studies, Family Studies, Film Studies, German Studies, International Relations, Latin American Studies, Linguistic Studies, Management Studies, Mathematical Biology, Media Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Neuroscience, Nordic Studies, Race and Ethnic Studies, Statistics, Women's and Gender Studies.
Faculty and Class Information
Student/Faculty
12.2:1
Total Faculty
315
with Terminal Degree
260
169
Women
146
Men
55
Minority
Most frequent class size
10 - 19
Most frequent lab / sub section size
10 - 19
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
81%
Graduate in 5 years
86%
Graduate in 6 years
86%
Majors
-
AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Asian Studies/Civilization.
Ethnic Studies.
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.
Latin American Studies.
Russian Studies.
-
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
-
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer Science.
-
EDUCATION.
Education, General.
-
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
-
FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature.
Chinese Language and Literature.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
French Language and Literature.
Japanese Language and Literature.
Latin Language and Literature.
Russian Language and Literature.
Spanish Language and Literature.
-
HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
-
HISTORY.
History, General.
-
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
-
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
-
MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Ancient Studies/Civilization.
Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
-
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Studies.
-
PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND FITNESS STUDIES.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
-
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
-
PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Physics, General.
-
PSYCHOLOGY.
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other.
-
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS.
Social Work.
-
SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics.
Economics, General.
Political Science and Government, General.
Sociology and Anthropology.
-
THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS.
Religious/Sacred Music.
-
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Art/Art Studies, General.
Dance, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Music Performance, General.
Music Theory and Composition.
Music, General.
Students Say
With roots in a “Norwegian heritage,” St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, provides students “a wonderful liberal arts education” with a strong focus on “classical music appreciation,” while still offering “academic opportunities for everyone.” St. Olaf emphasizes the need for “globally conscious citizens.” To help them “[build] a global perspective,” St. Olaf encourages students “to ask questions and explore their beliefs.” Students agree that “the professors here are simply phenomenal in every respect, and their approachability is absolutely a hallmark of this campus.” Nearly everyone we heard from praised their professors as “readily available to help,” offering “late night review sessions,” encouraging “academic conversations outside of the classroom,” and “[extending] office hours to all five days a week the week before” major projects are due. St. Olaf students feel their professors “care about their students as whole people.” But “this does not mean that they are lax and let students walk all over them.” St. Olaf faculty maintain “high expectations” for their students, “but [they] want to see students succeed” as well. “Being a professor isn’t just a 9-to-5 job for them,” one student explains, “but a life they truly enjoy.” While the school is affiliated with the Lutheran church, students assure us that “even if you aren’t religious, you won’t feel out of place at St. Olaf,” explaining how “the religious aspect of the school” is rooted in its history “and allows those that are religious to find a community of people who are religious as well.”
Degrees
Bachelor's
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Elizabeth Nabel, '74
cardiologist and president of Brigham and Women's/Faulkner hospitals
Gretchen Morgenson, '76
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter at the Wall Street Journal
Diane Havlir, '80
a pioneering leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS
Dean Maki, '87
Chief U.S. Economist at Point72 Asset Management
Rachel Palermo, '15
Assistant Press Secretary to Vice President Kamala Harris
Amanda Cox, '01
The New York Times Data Editor
Anton Armstrong, '78
Renowned choral conductor and educator who leads the St. Olaf Choir
Academic Rating
89/99
Careers
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
81%
Graduate in 5 years
86%
Graduate in 6 years
86%
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Information from PayScale:
Starting Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$55,000
Mid-Career Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$106,400
Starting Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$57,300
Mid-Career Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$109,800
Percent High Job Meaning
53%
Percent STEM
30%
Students Say
Students say that one of St. Olaf’s greatest strengths is its Piper Center for Vocation and Career. By maintaining “strategic relationships with employers, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and donors,” the center can “maximize opportunities for students and alumni.” Furthermore, students say that the “vocational retreats, alumni luncheons, [and] one-on-one coaching…makes sure that all the hard work put into classes pays off.” According to PayScale.com, 53 percent of St. Olaf alumni report that they derive a high level of meaning from their careers. The average “early career” (alumni with 0-5 years of experience) yearly salary is $55,000.
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Comprehensive Fee: $63,110
Financial Aid
Meeting 100% of Your Financial Need: Choosing a college involves finding a school with the academic, social and most importantly financial fit. At St. Olaf, we are committed to making education affordable to attract and educate a diverse student body of thoughtful and talented young people from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Our commitment includes meeting the full demonstrated need for all students and offering a merit scholarship program to recognize your academic success, your talent in the fine arts, and being a servant-leader in your community.
Scholarships St. Olaf merit scholarships are awarded in recognition of past achievement and future potential in academics, fine arts, service leadership, and community engagement. While your grades and test scores are primary components, scholarship awards reflect our holistic approach to admission and take into consideration your extracurricular involvement, the strength of your writing, and your recommendations. All scholarships are renewable for up to four years, provided you remain in good academic standing and are enrolled full time. Academic scholarships range from $15,000–$28,000 per year and service-leadership scholarships range from $2,000–$6,000 per year. Students are automatically considered for academic and service-leadership scholarships when they submit an application for admission.
Fine arts scholarships are awarded on the basis of the fine arts application, auditions, interviews, and/or portfolio reviews by faculty members. Applications for fine arts scholarships are due on your applicable application deadline. Finalists for fine arts scholarships are notified in late January and are invited to visit campus and audition in late February or early March. Scholarships range from $2,000 to $15,000 per year.
Our Commitment To Affordability
| Family Income Range% | Minimum Grants & Scholarships Provided |
|---|---|
| $75,000 and below | $52,000 (Approximately Full Tuition) |
| $75,001-$130,000 | $40,000 |
| $130,001-$200,000 | $32,000 |
| $200,000 – $300,000 | $20,000 |
*Assuming typical assets
MyIntution Calculator.
Net Price Calculator
Dates
Application Deadlines
Jan 15
Notification Date
Apr 1
Required Forms
FAFSA
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
Forms CSSProfile
Forms Divorced Parent
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$41,559
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$39,430
Average Need-Based Loan
$4,247
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
64%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$29,257
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$41,392
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition
Required Fees
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
Transportation for Commuters
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Federal and Institutional
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Non-Need-Based
Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is available
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL)
College/university loans from institutional funds
Federal Nursing Loans
State Loans
Federal Nursing Loans
State Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Direct Lender
No
Financial Aid Rating
95/99
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Lifelong connections are formed on the Hill. For Oles, college means community: it's the difference between being part of a neighborhood and being lost in a crowd. Here, students come together to work, study, and play. Here, you'll find people who share your passions, and people who ignite new ones. Here, you'll find people who will be lifelong friends.
An Ole's experience is a wider world experience.
- #1 among baccalaureate colleges for 11 years in a row in the number of students who study abroad
- 123 established domestic or international off-campus study programs offered
- 73% of the Class of 2019 studied off campus
- 41 countries in which St. Olaf has active programs
The Glenn and Myretta Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion aims to foster an inclusive environment across the intersections of race and identity that students bring to St. Olaf by providing resources and programs that support student success, engagement, leadership and intercultural understanding.
Oles don't just land jobs, they find vocations. The Piper Center for Vocation and Career will help you identify your interests and abilities, and shape your education accordingly.
- Within six months after graduation, 97% of Oles are employed, in full-time service projects, or in graduate or professional school.
- Ranked 11th overall among the nation's 239 baccalaureate colleges in the number of graduates who go on to earn doctoral degrees.
Explore the things you love. Almost everyone is involved in something, and more than a few Oles are involved in one thing too many. That's normal when you put talented and motivated people together. We have 50+ Academic Organizations, 15+ Athletic Clubs, 15+ Multicultural Organizations, 10+ Club Sports, 35+ Volunteer Network Organizations. Strike out in new directions, try new things, or find a new niche, this is a great community in which to do that. Exploration and experimentation are exciting. You never know where they'll lead. Visit Oleville
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
2,953
Foreign Countries Represented
80
Demographics
6.80%
Asian
3.24%
African-American
7.55%
Hispanic
67.45%
Caucasian
9.94%
International
59% female
41% male
49% are out of state
99% are full time
1% are part time
Students Say
Students express concern about the “lack of diversity on campus,” but they hold one another in high esteem. “It’s an accepting and trusting community” where students are comfortable “leaving laptops and backpacks around” without worry, and “if you lose your ID or wallet, you can expect it to appear in your PO box within a few hours.” Students tend to be “a little preppy, type A personalities” who are “trustworthy” and considerate: “a local florist sells ‘Friday flowers’—which people buy for their friends and leave in their POs with notes.” These “sincere” students “wear Norwegian sweaters non-ironically” and exude a “very mid-western ... niceness.” Olaf is an alcohol-free school, and “although it definitely has a presence on campus,” students “agree that there is no pressure to drink” from fellow Oles. “I would say if you’re not into socializing at parties and are into good clean fun,” one student explains, “then there are options for you.” With such strong music programs, it is no wonder that “music is very important to the average St. Olaf student, especially choir.”
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
St. Olaf is located on top of a hill, surrounded by 350 acres of natural lands for recreation and environmental study. Northfield, MN is a small historical college town of 20,000 people.
Off-Campus Opportunities
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, offer an international airport, the second highest number of theater seats per capita, and arena for all major professional sports.
Campus Life
Undergrads living on campus
91%
Help finding off-campus housing
No
93/99
First-Year Students living on campus
100%
Campus Environment
Village
82/99
Housing Options
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Other
Other
Students Say
Oles enjoy an active and engaging campus life where “most students are busy on school days and nights either studying or attending school functions.” Olaf students take their community and club involvement seriously. With “250 student clubs and organizations” that “[provide] opportunities for students to explore and nourish their passions,” students find that “it is really easy to get involved in multiple activities.” While this can make it so their “days are pretty full, sometimes hectic,” “being an Ole means you are fully devoted to your school or your community.” Even so, Oles say they have “a pretty good work/life balance since there are so many opportunities to de-stress and spend time with friends (even if you are just working in the same room).” Among the “million extra activities” that Oles love, “choir and music are hugely popular-— [about 25 percent] of students are in a music ensemble and [many] students participate in the nationally renowned St. Olaf Christmas Festival.” During the Christmas Festival, “alumni from all over [flock] back to the Hill to relive their Ole days. The campus is decorated everywhere, and the cafeteria even serves Norwegian food for the big weekend.” And for Oles this “close knit, inquisitive student body” is “literally home.” “I leave for break, excited to see my family” one environmental science major explains, “But to be honest? I find myself longing for the day when I come back to campus. Back to my home.”
Special Needs Admissions
Director
Laura Knobel-Piehl
College Entrance Tests Required
Yes
Interview Required
No
Documentation Required for LD
Verification of Disability including full neuropsychological assessments used to determine the diagnosis. Assessment findings and recommendations for equal access in higher education.Documentation Required for ADHD
Verification of disability from provider.Special Need Services Offered
Calculator allowed in exams
Yes
Dictionary allowed in exams
Yes
Computer allowed in exams
Yes
Spellchecker allowed in exams
Yes
Extended test time
Yes
Scribes
Yes
Proctors
Yes
Oral exams
Yes
Notetakers
Yes
Distraction-free environment
Yes
Accommodation for students with ADHD
2
Reading machine
Yes
Other assistive technology
Yes
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
194
Number of Honor Societies
24
Number of Social Sororities
0
Number of Religious Organizations
7
Sports
Athletic Division
Division III
26% participate in intramural sports
18% participate in intercollegiate sports
Men's Sports (Oles)
14 Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Skiing Downhill Alpine
Skiing Nordic Cross Country
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Skiing Downhill Alpine
Skiing Nordic Cross Country
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Women's Sports (Oles)
14 Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Golf
Ice Hockey
Skiing Downhill Alpine
Skiing Nordic Cross Country
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Cross Country
Diving
Golf
Ice Hockey
Skiing Downhill Alpine
Skiing Nordic Cross Country
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Student Services
Sustainability
60*
Campus Security Report
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: http://ope.ed.gov/security
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
% of Classrooms with Wireless Internet
100
Fee for Network Use
No
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Yes
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
No
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Yes
