St. Olaf College

Students playing croquet
Stav Hall
St. Olaf professor and student
Buntrock Commons
St. Olaf winter scene
Students in class
Old Main
St. Olaf concert
St. Olaf campus
St. Olaf classroom
Classroom
Science lab
Library
Athletic facilities
St. Olaf wind turbine

www.stolaf.edu

St. Olaf College
Office of Admissions
1520 St. Olaf Avenue
Northfield, MN 55057

phone: 507.786.3025
toll-free: 800.800.3025
fax: 507.786.3832
email admissions

Want to get to know us? Come visit!

Majors and Degrees Offered

Overview

St. Olaf College offers an academically rigorous education with a vibrant faith tradition as a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. St. Olaf prepares students to become responsible citizens of the world by fostering the development of mind, body, and spirit. Known for its programs in mathematics, natural sciences, and music, St. Olaf also provides dynamic opportunities for interdisciplinary study. Committed to global education, more than two-thirds of its students participate in study abroad. Over the years, St. Olaf has been a national leader among liberal arts colleges in producing Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Fellows, and Peace Corps volunteers.

St. Olaf College at a Glance

Enrollment

  • Undergraduate: 3,179

Academic

  • Student/faculty ratio: 12:1
  • Average class size: 23
  • Number undergraduate majors: 44

Racial/ethnic distribution

  • 87% White, 2% Black, 3% Hispanic, 5% Asian/Pacific Islander, 3% Multiracial

First-year student profile

  • Average ACT score: The middle 50% of enrolled students had ACT composite scores between 27 and 32. 85% of students presented the ACT as part of their applications.
  • Average SAT score: Middle 50% ranges for SAT Math: 610-720, SAT Verbal: 600-720. 37% of students submitted the SAT as part of their applications.
  • High school GPA: 3.65
  • Percentage from Minnesota: 46%
  • Percentage who live on campus: 96%

Cost

  • 2011-12 undergraduate tuition and fees: $38,150
  • Room and board: $8,800
  • Percentage first-time undergraduates receiving financial aid: 84%

Religious affiliation

  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Academics

Degrees offered

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music

View all majors and degrees

5 largest majors

Biology, Mathematics, Economics, English, Psychology

Faculty

218 full-time, 115 part-time; 94% of full-time faculty members hold the doctorate or highest degree in their field

Student/faculty ratio

12:1

Average class size

23

Accreditation & approval

Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, American Chemical Society, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council of Social Work Education, National Association of Schools of Dance, National Association of Schools of Music, National Association of Schools of Theatre, and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Pre-professional programs

18 offerings including: accounting, architecture, dentistry, engineering, information technology, journalism, law, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, social work, veterinary medicine.

Teaching licensure programs

St. Olaf offers Secondary/Middle Level (5-12) licenses in communication arts/literature, mathematics, science (biology, chemistry, physics), and social studies. Level K-12 licenses are offered in dance, theater arts, ESL, music (vocal and instrumental), visual art, and French, German, Spanish, and Latin.

Intercampus agreements

A cooperative agreement with Carleton College enables St. Olaf and Carleton students to take courses on either campus. This can be difficult because St. Olaf is on semesters while Carleton is on trimesters

Study abroad programs

There are nearly 90 program opportunities in 48 countries to choose from, including the St. Olaf Global Semester, Term in Asia and Term in the Middle East. Students also may study in Argentina, China, Germany, India, Russia, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey and many other countries across the globe. Areas of study vary widely, from environmental science in Australia, mathematics in Budapest, or sustainable development in Central America to Renaissance art and culture in Florence, African culture and society in Botswana, and democracy and social change in Northern Ireland. In addition to St. Olaf interim and semester-length programs and institutional exchanges, approved offerings are also available through the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Council on International Educational Exchange, IES Abroad, and other organizations.

Internships/career services

The Center for Experiential Learning offers internship programs that provide planned, supervised experiential education projects that integrate study and practical work. Internships are undertaken to acquire and apply knowledge through direct experience in a field related to the student's academic program.

The Center for Experiential Learning also provides career information and assistance to students and alumni through professional advising, on-campus interviews, and a resource center with information on graduate schools CEL assists with career planning, tracks employment opportunities and paid internships, and facilitates a career advisory network of alumni.

Admission & cost

Admissions

Online application: http://www.stolaf.edu/admissions/

Application requirements: The Common Application and the St. Olaf supplement to the Common Application

Application deadlines: Early Decision 1 — Nov. 15; Early Decision 2 — Jan. 15; Regular Admission — Jan. 15.

Application fee: Free online, $40 for paper application

Advanced placement credit

Individual departments determine credit/placement for CEEB Advanced Placement program participants. Accepted scores vary for each exam with a maximum of five equivalent St. Olaf credits that can be obtained.

Transfer criteria (credits, GPA):

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

Transfer process (deadlines and materials)

February 1 and April 1 are the deadlines for fall enrollment. Students must submit the common application and St. Olaf supplement, transcripts for each college attended, a statement of good standing from prior institution(s), a high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores, and two letters of recommendation. For more information regarding our transfer policy and process, contact our transfer coordinator at transfer@stolaf.edu.

Cost

2011-12 undergraduate tuition and fees: $38,150

Room and board: $8,800

Percentage of first-time undergraduates receiving financial aid: 84%

Financial aid information

St. Olaf is committed to helping every admitted student find a way to finance his or her education. A St. Olaf education is an investment that pays dividends — economical and personal — over a lifetime. There are several forms of aid available to help make college affordable for families: gift aid (need-based grants and merit scholarships), student employment and student loans.
More about financial aid
Financial Aid Estimator

Student involvement

Student organizations

More than 200 registered student organizations, including academic, musical, political, recreational, religious, multicultural, and social and environmental awareness groups.

Athletic programs

Conference membership

NCAA Division III, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)

Men's varsity

Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, hockey, skiing (alpine, Nordic), soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, wrestling

Women's varsity

Basketball, cross country, golf, hockey, skiing (alpine, Nordic), soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball

Intramurals

Thirty-two intramural and club sports, in which nearly half of the student body is involved.

Club sports

Cycling, badminton, boxing, fencing, martial arts, men's hockey, men's lacrosse, men's rugby, men's ultimate frisbee, men's volleyball, rowing, women's lacrosse, women's rugby, women's ultimate frisbee

Fine Arts Offerings

Agnes A Cappella female a cappella ensemble, ballroom dance club, St. Olaf band, cantorei, St. Olaf choir, chapel choir, clarinet choir, collegium musicum, early music singers, flute choir, gospel choir, handbell ensemble, horn club, improv theater, St. Olaf orchestra, Manitou singers, musical theater, Muziko Nova composers society, Norseman band, opera, philharmonia, the Runestones accordian ensemble, St. Olaf film production society, trombone choir, tuba-euphonium ensemble, virtuosi chamber winds

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