Liberal arts college
#16 Best colleges for social work in AmericaSt. Olaf College
Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $23,874 a year
Median debt at graduation: $26,000 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for social work in America#16 of 605
- Best colleges for nursing in America#33 of 1,068
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#30 of 950
- Best colleges for education in America#76 of 1,318
- Best colleges in America#134 of 1,829
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#143 of 1,829
Show 18 more
- Best colleges for psychology in America#112 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#120 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#114 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#114 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#117 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#113 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#118 of 1,215
- Best mid-size colleges in America#65 of 667
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#117 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#117 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#112 of 1,063
- Best colleges for computer science in America#80 of 750
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in America#56 of 430
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#94 of 690
- Best colleges for economics in America#115 of 788
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#129 of 682
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#144 of 693
- Most selective colleges in America#170 of 683
In Minnesota
- Best colleges for nursing in Minnesota#1 of 25
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Minnesota#1 of 24
- Best colleges for social work in Minnesota#1 of 16
- Best colleges for education in Minnesota#2 of 32
- Best colleges in Minnesota#3 of 40
- Best colleges for computer science in Minnesota#2 of 24
Show 19 more
- Best test-optional colleges in Minnesota#3 of 35
- Best colleges for psychology in Minnesota#3 of 32
- Best colleges for art and design in Minnesota#3 of 30
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Minnesota#3 of 30
- Best colleges for English in Minnesota#3 of 30
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Minnesota#4 of 40
- Best colleges for history in Minnesota#3 of 28
- Best colleges for mathematics in Minnesota#3 of 27
- Best colleges for music in Minnesota#3 of 27
- Best colleges for chemistry in Minnesota#3 of 26
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Minnesota#3 of 23
- Best colleges for economics in Minnesota#3 of 21
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in Minnesota#3 of 19
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Minnesota#3 of 19
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in Minnesota#3 of 19
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Minnesota#3 of 19
- Most selective colleges in Minnesota#3 of 19
- Best mid-size colleges in Minnesota#3 of 18
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Minnesota#5 of 19
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.84%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.92%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,380 · ACT 30
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.11 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$19,698
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $71,843 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,074 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 42% · Women 58% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 13% |
| Total students | 3,074 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $23,874 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $71,843 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 84% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 88% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 86% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 89% |
| First-year retention | 92% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $65,543 |
| Admission rate | 48% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | No application fee |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 21% |
| Average SAT | 1380 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 660–740 |
| SAT math | 640–730 |
| ACT composite | 28–32 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good · Top 50% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Mathematics | |
| Economics | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Biology | |
| Sociology and Anthropology | |
| Political science | |
| Experimental psychology | |
| Ethnic and gender studies | |
| Psychology | |
| Romance languages | |
| Secondary education | |
| Social work | |
| English | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Area studies | |
| Theatre | |
| Fine arts | |
| History | |
| Music | |
| Religious studies |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Chemistry, Classical and Ancient Studies, Classics, Dance, East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Education (general), Film and video, German, Liberal arts, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Nursing, Philosophy, Physics, Religious Music and Worship, Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Social sciences | |
| Biology | |
| Visual and performing arts | |
| Psychology | |
| Mathematics and statistics |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Town |
| Part-time undergraduates | 1% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 0% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $13,630 |
| Sports | NCAA Division III · Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 11 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 24%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 76%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $232,900IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 97% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)About 29 miles away |
| Town population | 20,742Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | St. PaulAbout 34 miles away |
| Typical weather | 14°F in January · 71°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Faribault, MN, about 11 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 1.60 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is St. Olaf College’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A). It ranks in the top 8% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does St. Olaf College cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $23,874 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into St. Olaf College?
- St. Olaf College admitted 48% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do St. Olaf College’s graduates do?
- 84% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $65,543; the median federal debt at graduation is $26,000.
Ask the school
Something you want to know that isn’t on this page? Ask it here. We send it to the school, and their answer appears on this page. Your name is never shared.
Reviews
Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.
No reviews yet.
Sign in to write a review.
My rating and notes
Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 174844
- Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate college (arts & sciences)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: St. Olaf vs St. Lawrence · St. Olaf vs Gettysburg · St. Olaf vs Bard · St. Olaf vs Furman
More in Minnesota · Minnesota rankings