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St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Town

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At a glance

Average net price
$23,874What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
48%
Graduation rate
84%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
3,093
In-state tuition
$59,760Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$59,760
SAT midpoint
1,335
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$65,543Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$23,874

Better than 44% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

84%

Better than 91% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$65,543

Better than 77% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$26,000

Better than 28% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$71,843

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$23,874

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for St Olaf College
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time84%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return92%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$26,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$65,543

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at St Olaf College by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Science$82,27833
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$76,07822
Mathematics$58,82575
Economics$56,23875
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$47,80717
Social Work$45,14619
Chemistry$44,02046
Biology, General$36,42991
Religion/Religious Studies$36,32913
Area Studies$35,56913
Research and Experimental Psychology$35,07069
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$33,57726
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$32,09433
Political Science and Government$30,95352
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$29,92145
English Language and Literature, General$29,39834
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$28,28828
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$27,32814
Fine and Studio Arts$26,87033
Music$24,73243
PhysicsNot reported27
Sociology and AnthropologyNot reported24
HistoryNot reported24
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reported12
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported12
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported10
PhilosophyNot reported9
DanceNot reported7
Education, GeneralNot reported6
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported4
Religious Music and WorshipNot reported3
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported3
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
Classical and Ancient StudiesNot reported2
Psychology, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Medieval and Renaissance StudiesNot reportedNot reported

All 36 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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