Basic Information

Type Private
Geographical Reach National
Religious Affiliation Lutheran (ELCA)
Location Northfield, MN
Population 300,000
Map of the United States

Weather

Comfortable Days 100 (24%) very dry
Sunshine Hours 2,710 (68%)
Days Without Precipitation 255 (62%)

Demographics

Total Undergraduates 3,151
Men / Women 42% / 58%
From State 45%
From Region 10%
Athletes 25.9%

Racial/Ethnic

White 67%
Hispanic 10%
International 10%
Asian 5%
Mixed 5%
Black 3%
Native American 0%

Schools & Majors

Trends Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Saint Olaf College 681 40% / 60% 11% $62,959 39 97%
Computer Science 23 +16 65% / 35% 22% $103,546 95 100%
Chemistry 42 +8 43% / 57% 5% $65,127 46 100%
Mathematics 47 +32 57% / 43% 23% $84,245 82 92%
Physics 21 +4 71% / 29% 29% $79,162 76
Biology 70 +17 30% / 70% 4% $66,486 49 95%
Environmental Studies 26 +14 31% / 69% 0% $46,828 6 96%
Exercise Science 32 +3 66% / 34% 0% $56,032 19 100%
Nursing 27 11% / 89% 0% $80,622 77 100%
Economics 30 +8 73% / 27% 0% $80,617 77 98%
Quantitative Economics 40 +10 60% / 40% 35% $80,617 77 98%
Ancient Studies 4 +3 25% / 75% 0% $52,283 12
Asian Studies 7 +6 29% / 71% 29% $43,678 4 93%
Chinese 6 +4 33% / 67% 0% $39,267 2 91%
Church Music 2 50% / 50% 0% $52,015 11
Classics +1 $49,361 8
Creative Writing 5 +2 20% / 80% 0% $47,657 7
English 19 +4 32% / 68% 0% $49,788 9 98%
Ethnic Studies 3 +12 33% / 67% 0% $52,441 12 94%
French 1 +6 100% / 0% 0% $51,694 11 92%
German 3 +6 33% / 67% 0% $47,773 7
Greek +2 $47,930 7
History 15 +7 53% / 47% 0% $47,129 6 93%
Individualized Major 12 +3 42% / 58% 17% $49,787 9
Japanese 3 33% / 67% 0% $39,267 2 91%
Medieval and Renaissance Studies +1 $51,999 11
Norwegian 5 +4 60% / 40% 0% $47,472 6
Philosophy 10 +4 40% / 60% 10% $47,841 7
Political Science 29 +12 52% / 48% 10% $65,165 46 95%
Psychology 61 +21 20% / 80% 18% $54,766 16 100%
Race and Ethnic Studies 2 +9 0% / 100% 0% $52,441 12 94%
Religion 8 +4 12% / 88% 0% $36,124 2 100%
Russian 1 100% / 0% 0% $47,774 7
Russian Studies 1 +2 0% / 100% 0%
Social Work 10 0% / 100% 20% $49,265 8 95%
Sociology and Anthropology 28 +5 14% / 86% 14% $52,790 13 97%
Spanish 6 +9 0% / 100% 0% $51,694 11 93%
Womens Studies +1 $53,309 14
Education 1 +5 100% / 0% 0% $57,239 22
Social Studies Teacher Education 11 +2 36% / 64% 18% $56,772 21 92%
Art 17 +5 12% / 88% 24% $42,702 3 100%
Art History 5 +6 0% / 100% 20% $42,702 3 100%
Dance 4 +1 50% / 50% 0% $43,919 4
Film Studies 6 +8 83% / 17% 17% $46,403 6
Music 10 +2 60% / 40% 0% $50,454 9 100%
Music +1 $50,454 9 100%
Music Education 18 39% / 61% 0% $56,772 21 92%
Music Performance 8 25% / 75% 0% $50,454 9 100%
Music Theory and Composition 1 100% / 0% 0% $50,454 9 100%
Theatre 1 +3 100% / 0% 0% $51,139 10 100%

Financial

Tuition & Fees $63,495
ROI Percentile 39th

Retention & Graduation

Full-Time Retention 92%
4-Year Graduation Rate 77%
6-Year Graduation Rate 84%
Transfer-Out Rate 11%

Earnings by Major Category

Each major category's degree-weighted estimated median 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average. The shaded band between +1.28 and −1.28 marks the central 80% of the national distribution (10th–90th percentile).

Academics

% Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Humanities & Social Sciences 35.4% 241 29% / 71% 10% $52,009 11 97%
Physical Sciences & Math 16.2% 110 55% / 45% 17% $75,975 71 96%
Arts 10.3% 70 37% / 63% 9% $48,931 8 98%
Business & Economics 10.3% 70 66% / 34% 20% $80,617 77 98%
Life & Natural Sciences 10.3% 70 30% / 70% 4% $66,486 49 95%
Health Sciences 8.7% 59 41% / 59% 0% $67,285 52 100%
Agriculture & Food Science 3.8% 26 31% / 69% 0% $46,828 6 96%
Computer Science 3.4% 23 65% / 35% 22% $103,546 95 100%
Education 1.8% 12 42% / 58% 17% $56,811 21 92%

Research

Research $ Rank Federal Industry $ PhDs Rank PhD students Postdocs
Life & Natural Sciences $0.9M #342 72% $0
Physical Sciences & Math $0.4M #458 37% $0
Humanities & Social Sciences $0.1M #497 8% $0
Business & Economics $0.0M #385 0% $0
Computer Science $0.0M #456 0% $0
Agriculture & Food Science $0.0M #303 0% $0
Education $0.0M #442 50% $0
Engineering $0 #449 $0
Health Sciences $0 #441 $0
Total $1.5M #528 54% $0

Expenditure and funding source: NSF HERD, FY2024. Degrees: IPEDS completions, 2023–24. Students and postdocs: NSF Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates, fall 2024, which covers science, engineering and selected health fields only. An em dash means the source does not report the figure, which is not the same as zero.

Admissions

Uses Common App Yes
Acceptance Rate 45%
Yield (Unbound) 21%
Early Decision 1 Nov 1
Early Action Nov 1
Regular Decision Jan 1

Acceptance Rates

In-State Out-of-State International
Regular Decision 44% 44% 44%
Early Decision 58% 58% 58%

Early Action and Restrictive Early Action applicants are reported at the regular-decision rate.

Standardized Tests

Test Policy optional
Submitted Test Scores 40%
SAT Range 1300 – 1470
SAT Math Range 640 – 730
SAT RW Range 660 – 740