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Founded in 1874, St Olaf College. is a Private college. Located in Minnesota, which is a city setting in Minnesota, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 3,040 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.
The St Olaf College Academic calendar runs on a Four-one-four plan basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 12:1. There are 225 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at St Olaf College include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
44%
Application Deadline
15-Nov
Application Fee
0
SAT Range
1120-1400
ACT Range
26-31
Admissions at are considered More Selective, with ,33% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 14 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
97% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 80% were in the top quarter, and 50% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at St Olaf College.
0%
“We”re apathetic”
4%
“We know about current events and vote”
72%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
24%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
4%
“Sometimes, but not often”
64%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
32%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
4%
“I only go out in groups”
4%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
92%
“I feel extremely safe”
75%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
20%
“We bought the gear”
5%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
4%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
36%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
60%
“We”re a very artistic group”
4%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
52%
“They keep regular office hours”
44%
“They”re always available”
92%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
8%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
48%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
48%
“We only party on weekends”
4%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
16%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
60%
“There might be people who do”
24%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
4%
“We know about current events and vote”
72%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
24%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
4%
“Sometimes, but not often”
64%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
32%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
4%
“I only go out in groups”
4%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
92%
“I feel extremely safe”
75%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
20%
“We bought the gear”
5%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
4%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
36%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
60%
“We”re a very artistic group”
4%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
52%
“They keep regular office hours”
44%
“They”re always available”
92%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
8%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
72 Students rated on-campus housing 4.1 stars. 26 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
51 Students rated off-campus housing 2.8 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
74 Students rated campus food 4.6 stars. 72 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
74 Students rated campus facilities 4.6 stars. 62 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
74 Students rated class size 4.6 stars. 66 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
73 Students rated school activities 4.3 stars. 45 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
73 Students rated local services 3.5 stars. 21 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
74 Students rated academics 4.3 stars. 47 % gave the school a 5.0.
St Olaf College REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of St Olaf College?
21 Students rated St Olaf College
Jenna
St Olaf college started out really amazing, however, it's basically turned into a glorified summer camp. There's very little freedom or privacy, and ever since covid hit, the college has gone down. The food used to be ranked #1, but since covid, the food has become mediocre. The administration doesn't listen to the students or the faculty, causing a lot of problems that ultimately hinder the students education. Furthermore, the acceptance rate went from 33% when I was accepted, to a whopping 75% when I graduated. They keep admitting more students, thus my tuition went up heavily. Class sizes also increased, and professor burnout became more apparent. Lastly, St Olaf does not give out good financial aid, despite saying they give out 100% of financial aid to people in need.
Anna
I think it is a good college, but not a party school. I like how many extracurricular activities there are to join, but the cafeteria food got progressively worse after the pandemic hit. The dorms are pretty good and are all close to the academic buildings. The music department is very good, but being in an ensemble or band can be intense. The academics are pretty good too.
Cora
It's a wonderful school. The administration is incredibly caring and wonderful, no matter the circumstance. It's in a lovely little town in MN, with plenty to do around it, and ample public transport to get there. They support diversity wherever they go, with numerous racial, political, and LGBTQ+ groups across campus. Along with this, they encourage It's also home to one of the most fantastic choirs, led by amazing directors who have a real passion for what they do.
Alexander
St Olaf College is a great place to go if you're looking for a more intimate setting with nice people and very accessible professors. There are a wide variety of opportunities available including strong music and art programs. The community is very close knit and everyone is very friendly and helpful. If you are looking for a school with big sports programs or greek life, this is not the school for you.
Maren
I transfered to St Olaf from a school that was really not working out for me, and the contrast is amazing. St. Olaf has a beautiful campus that just feels like home, really good food, almost any facility you could ask for (including multiple tracks, an ice rink, and a pool), multiple theaters, on campus resources, and various outlets for student life. It really caters to all lifestyles and personalities, and makes them coexist in a beautiful and comfortable way for all students. I am very artistically and environmentally engaged, so it's amazing to have both a proscenium and blackbox theater, numerous dance studios, art classes galore, and more than 250 acres of natural lands and trails to explore on campus. The campus offers a well rounded life: academia, athletics, and leisure.
Gabriel
St. Olaf college was the perfect choice for me, since I wanted to stay in my home state of Minnesota and needed a school with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The students and faculty are all very friendly and personable. I have yet to meet a truly unpleasant person at St. Olaf. The school is ranked very highly in the state, usually top 5, and it’s for a good reason. The professors are top notch, the classes are interesting, and the food is great! Since it is expected that all first-year students live on campus, there is an immediate sense of community among students. The arts at St. Olaf are yet another reason to rave. Everyone here is so unbelievably talented whether it be in the theater department, the choirs, or any of the instrumental ensembles. The cost of tuition is rather high, but the need based financial aid at St. Olaf is one of the many reasons it was my final choice of college. Did I mention the food? It is ranked within the top 5 cafeterias in the entire country. It really helps with the transition knowing you’ll always have good food to eat every day. The alumni network at St. Olaf is expansive and very helpful in finding a career after college. I am only a first-year at St. Olaf, but I know I have so many good times ahead of me in the next few years at the school.
Emma
St Olaf is a small college, some people find living on the hill to be isolating while other people really value the tight community atmosphere. They claim its a dry campus but you can always find a party and drinking on the weekends. The class sizes are small so you can create a good connection with your classmates and professors and not every class is a massive lecture, but your professor will notice when you don't show up. In general I really like it here and I'm happy.
Jessica
Great school that offers challenging courses and requires that every student take classes in subjects beyond their major since it's a liberal arts school. The study abroad courses offered are expensive, but definitely worth the cost! Everyone on campus is very friendly and the campus is beautiful.
Jocelyn
I loved St. Olaf college when I visited my future campus because it has such a safe and trusting environment. I could leave my Mac laptop out without worrying that someone would steal it. I'm very excited to attend this fall. Although, it's in a very quite town, and I grew up in the city so it will take some time to adjust to the change.
Hunter
St. Olaf College is a wonderful, Midwestern liberal arts experience. Students and faculty are generally friendly and helpful. The on campus culture definitely emphasizes arts, discussions and science over athletics. The Lutheran tradition of the school is present but not overwhelming.
Deania
Saint Olaf is a relatively excellent school. I was able to transition easily and the school tries to accommodate everyone interest. The academic opportunities here are exceptional. Ranging from nursing to music, there's a major for everyone even if your undecided. Although there is tension between groups of students, the community life is very excepting. I never though I would move states away, but St.Olaf was the school that opened my eyes to the possibilities of my future.
Zoe
This is a fantastic liberal arts college for students who want to pursue an education and also participate in many groups around campus. Students are very involved and hold themselves to high academic standards. The food service is great and very accesible to those with dietary needs. The athletic programs are well curated to the Division III students atheletes, and the music program is competetive and well renowned.
Jazmin
St. Olaf provides its students with a phenomenal environment of academia and exploration; exploration in the sense of self, adventure, passion, and limits. I have found St. Olaf to be a college that will help me to become a better version of myself. The courses are rigorous, but the rewards to be reaped seem well worth it. If you are looking for a place to explore, be pushed to your breaking point, and find your sense of adventure you may want to consider calling St. Olaf home.
Hannah
St. Olaf College is a small fine-arts college in Minnesota. I'm from Nebraska so it was a little far away from home but I was up for the change. I was led to St. Olaf initially by the college softball coach who recruited me to play for them. I visited the campus and fell in love! It is a beautiful campus filled with tress, lots of open space and unique and beautiful buildings.
As an incoming freshman, of course there are nerves because I didn't know anyone who was going there. But it really didn't take long to meet people. There are tons of dorm-sponsored activities and also plenty of other things to do around campus - movies, concerts, games, intramural sports, and clubs just to name a few.
The classes are challenging but that's OK. I didn't come to college just to play softball; I want to get a quality education too. My goal is to go on to become a veterinarian so it's important to take classes that make me work hard.
I have made tons of friends and I absolutely love it here! I actually miss it when I go home for breaks (sorry mom!!). Choosing St. Olaf was the best decision I could have made and I am looking forward to what adventures the next 3 1/2 years bring!
H
St. Olaf college needs to be more student-focused. If you are not a financially well-off, neurotypical student, you will struggle with administration here. Your needs will not be accommodated.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for St Olaf College is 44%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
If I could go back in time and talk to my High School Senior self, I would tell him to spend more time studying for good grades and a better GPA. I missed out on a lot of opportunities because I wasn't placing my education first. I would tell my High School Self to apply for scholarships, enroll in colleges I wanted to go to, and save my paychecks instead of spending them.
While diverse in academics and in student population, St. Olaf College is best known for its music and natural science programs. The St. Olaf choir is nationally recognized and a large number of students graduating with degrees in the natural sciences go on to become affluent professors, researchers, and more in the field.
St. Olaf is also known for its cafeteria. As one of the most environmentally-friendly colleges in the state, St. Olaf's Bon Appetite churns out high-quality and healthy foods provided by local farms.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst thing would probably be how the school emphasizes certain programs--such as parts of the music department--occasionally at the expense of other valuable campus organizations. For example, in my junior year, the school sold the country's oldest student-run radio station in order to fund new additions to the music department--including an honorary chairmanship of the church music program, with a whopping 4 student majors.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
St. Olaf's dedication towards becoming more environmentally -friendly: it has banned bottled water, decreasing the number of wasted plastics that go towards dumps. It also provides fresh, organic produce by the local farms.
St. Olaf is also well-known for its study abroad programs. While many students may find themselves unable to experience this opportunity, St. Olaf does its best to make sure that a large number of students will get the chance to study abroad at least once during their time at St. Olaf.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
St. Olaf stuck out to me because of its excellence both in music and in academics, specifically mathematics (my double major). It seemed to have the best balance between conservatory quality music training and a highly regarded liberal arts education.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
I wish I had known how many things I could do on campus and not let my grades slip. The time management becomes difficult since I am very involved on campus.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
I guess I would say the most frustrating thing is something that doesn't relate to St. Olaf directly at all, and that is the scarcity of time I have in college. It's difficult for me to fit in everything that I need to get done, and will definitely require further development of my time management skills. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my college choice and don't feel that there's anything expressly frustrating about this school in particular.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
People looking for the "big campus" experience may feel out of place. St. Olaf is an intimate campus, and thrives on small classes of self-motivated individuals. Students interested in meeting a great many new people, or living in a high-energy city setting might feel let down. Look for potential fields of study carefully and see if your interests match up. Try to get to know the faculty in that area--and don't fear the double major! There is a definite focus on music programs, but rigorous academics are the name of the game all around.
A person who is not quite ready to plunge into the real world, but would like to be exposed to a strong academic support system. Also, this school is good for a person with an undecided major, becuase many of the programs here are strong.
The best thing about St. Olaf is the community feeling. Everyone is friendly and welcoming, and the professors are amazing. Also the new science center is unbelievable! The academics are intense but the professors want you to succeed.
Of course the music programs at St. Olaf are some of the best in the country. Even if you aren't in the choir, band or orchestra, you can always catch a concert.
One can't deny how beautiful the campus is either. It is probably the prettiest college campus I have ever seen.
The cafeteria food is delicious...not maybe the most important thing to look for in a school, but it is a definite plus!
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
It's very easy to meet people at St. Olaf, making friends happens quickly. There is no greek scene, which I actually liked. There is a lot to do apart from drinking. Frequent concerts, theater productions, dances, movies on campus are a few things to do. It is a dry campus (alcohol isn't allowed). Of course there is alcohol though, you just can't be super loud and obnoxious about it. If you want to party/drink, fear not, there are plenty of parties to be found. But if that isn't your thing, you can tune it out. It is nice because you can go to the parties, but if someone next door is drinking on a Tuesday night being loud at 3:00 AM when you have an exam at 8:00 AM the next morning it is easily taken care of. Dry campus=partying without bothering everyone around you.
The large majority of professors know your name. My favorite class was genetics taught by Dr. Jean Porterfield--it was difficult, but I learned a lot from her, she made class fun and challenging. Most of my classes were either in biology or chemistry and the professors were fantastic in those departments! Be prepared to study.
Opportunities to study abroad are unparalleled. You can go anywhere from Africa to the Bahamas to Costa Rica or Italy while studying Spanish to marketing or biology.
I feel like I got the best education available by going to St. Olaf, and it prepared me well for graduate school.
We apparently have a great baseball and cross country team, but other than that people really only go to the Carleton games. We supposedly have a rivalry with them.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
94% of students attending St Olaf College receive some sort of financial aid.
17% were awarded federal grants.51%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
