St. Olaf: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially St Olaf College · Northfield, Minnesota · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Action
- 7,310
- Applicants
- 3,171
- Admitted43%
- 794
- Enrolled
- 25%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective43% admittedRanked #49 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Economics #122 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by St Olaf College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is St. Olaf a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places St. Olaf against it in about a minute. No account needed.
St. Olaf is a private nonprofit university in Northfield, Minnesota that admits about 43% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $23,874 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Biology, General, Economics and Mathematics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 83% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
St. Olaf is a private institution located in Northfield, Minnesota with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, St. Olaf admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 43%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1380 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,874 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for St. Olaf?
62% of enrolled students at St. Olaf had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.75, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does St. Olaf weight in admissions?
St. Olaf reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
Important
7- Class rank
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Level of applicant's interest
Considered
7- Standardized test scores
- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
1- Alumni/ae relation
SAT and ACT scores St. Olaf typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 640–730, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1320 |
| 50th percentile | 1380 |
| 75th percentile | 1440 |
| % submitting SAT | 13% |
| 25th percentile | 28 |
| 50th percentile | 30 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | 30% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional for domestic applicants; self-reported scores accepted; SAT/ACT superscored.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on St. Olaf's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 40% |
| Top 25% of class | 73% |
| Top 50% of class | 94% |
| % submitting class rank | 33% |
How much does St. Olaf actually cost?
Published tuition is $59,760 for in-state students and $59,760 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,630 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $23,874 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 21% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $65,700 |
| Room and board | $15,000 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $23,874 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 100% |
| Average need-based grant | $56,959 |
| Average merit award, no financial need166 first-year students received one | $32,676 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 57% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $26,863 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for St. Olaf
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | 10-Mar |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
Will my child graduate from St. Olaf?
These predict outcomes at St. Olaf better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at St. Olaf
The most popular undergraduate programs at St. Olaf, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Biology, General, Economics and Mathematics. Across all programs, St. Olaf confers roughly 544 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Biology, General program report a median income of about $66,856 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 111 | $66,856 |
| Economics | 80 | $81,483 |
| Mathematics | 75 | $85,214 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 75 | n/a |
| Political Science and Government | 67 | $65,865 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 50 | $50,310 |
| Music | 47 | $51,102 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 39 | $43,251 |
Is St. Olaf safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), St. Olaf disclosed 8 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 8 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at St. Olaf?
About 97% of undergraduates at St. Olaf live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for St. Olaf
Common questions parents ask about St. Olaf
What GPA do I need for St. Olaf?
62% of enrolled students at St. Olaf had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.75, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does St. Olaf typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 640–730, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32.
How much does St. Olaf actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at St. Olaf after grants and scholarships is $23,874 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $59,760. Budget against the net figure.
Is St. Olaf realistic for my child?
St. Olaf admits 43% of applicants, so 640–730 SAT Math is target range and below 640 is a reach. Then check the $23,874 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at St. Olaf?
St. Olaf accepts about 43% of applicants out of roughly 7,310 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is St. Olaf test-optional?
Yes. St. Olaf is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at St. Olaf?
About 83% of students at St. Olaf graduate within six years. 94% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does St. Olaf look for in applicants?
St. Olaf rates course rigor, GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is St. Olaf a public or private school, and where is it located?
St. Olaf is a private nonprofit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota.
What are the most popular majors at St. Olaf?
The largest undergraduate majors at St. Olaf by annual graduates are Biology, General, Economics and Mathematics. The school awards about 544 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is St. Olaf safe? What is its campus crime rate?
St. Olaf reported 8 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at St. Olaf?
At St. Olaf, 97% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by St Olaf College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers