School Description

Provided by St. Olaf College

St. Olaf, a four-year college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, provides an education committed to the liberal arts, rooted in the Christian Gospel, and incorporating a global perspective. In the conviction that life is more than a livelihood, it focuses on what is ultimately worthwhile and fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit.

To study at St. Olaf is to engage with and make sense of the world, to learn how to think and to reason. A liberal arts education at St. Olaf offers programs that provide students with the skills to succeed in valuable careers. But our main purpose — rooted in the depth of a major course of study and the breadth of a general education — is to help students become effective citizens in an increasingly complicated world.

Founded in 1874 by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants, St. Olaf is a nationally ranked liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Its 3,000 students are drawn to St. Olaf from 50 states and 30 other countries. The student-faculty ratio of 12.8:1 encourages individual learning and teaching, while the residential nature of the 300-acre campus helps students become part of an enduring community that takes pride in its traditions and innovations.

Renowned for its beauty and award-winning architecture, St. Olaf is set on a hilltop overlooking historic Northfield, Minn., a charming, two-college town just 35 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ninety-six percent of students live in one of the college’s 11 residence halls, 10 service and honor houses, six academic language houses and one diversity house.

Our extracurricular activities enable students to hone their leadership skills, explore their passions and meet new friends. The college offers 27 intercollegiate athletic teams, 32 club and intramural sports, and 137 registered student organizations. With five large instrumental ensembles and seven large vocal ensembles, numerous chamber music ensembles, three jazz ensembles, two early music ensembles, and a three-production lyric theater season, more than one-third of St. Olaf students are involved in music.

< Collapse

St. Olaf College

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus.

An average of six St. Olaf students are awarded the Fulbright Scholarship each year. Additionally, the college has produced nine Rhodes Scholars since 1910, including two in 2007.

St. Olaf ranks as one of the top 20 small colleges (those with 5,000 or fewer students) for the number of students who go on to serve in the Peace Corps.

St. Olaf College is listed in Loren Pope's Colleges That Change Lives.

According to current U.S. News and World Report rankings, St. Olaf College is the #47 liberal arts college in the United States. St. Olaf ranks 8th overall among baccalaureate colleges in the number of graduates who go on to earn doctoral degrees, placing first in mathematics and statistics, second in education and religion/theology, third in art/music and physical sciences and fourth in chemistry and foreign languages.

History of the college

Founding of the college

Many Norwegian immigrants arrived in Rice County, Minnesota, and the surrounding area in the late 19th century. With nearly all the immigrants being Lutheran Christians, they desired a non-secular post-secondary institution in the Lutheran tradition that offered classes in all subjects in both Norwegian and English. The catalyst for founding St. Olaf was the Reverend Bernt Julius Muus, and he sought out the help of the Rev. N.A. Quammen and H. Thorson. Together they petitioned their parishes and others to raise money in order to buy a plot of land on which to build this new institution. The three men succeeded in receiving around $10,000 in pledges, and thus went on to form a corporation and to buy a plot of land and four buildings (old Northfield schoolhouses) for accommodations for the school.

< Collapse

Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Midwest
Setting:
Small Town Setting
Type:
Private
Affiliation:
Evangelical Lutheran Church
Size:
Medium (2,000 to 5,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Oles

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
2,994
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
100%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 26,500
Students Receiving Aid:
89%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 35
Selectivity:
Selective
> More Admissions

Degree Programs at St. Olaf College

Bachelor's Level Programs

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources

    See more schools with programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Natural Resources and Conservation See more schools with programs in Natural Resources and Conservation
      • Environmental Studies.
        A program that focuses on environment-related issues using scientific, social scientific, or humanistic approaches or a combination. Includes instruction in the basic principles of ecology and environmental science and related subjects such as policy, politics, law, economics, social aspects, planning, pollution control, natural resources, and the interactions of human beings and nature.
        See more schools with programs in Environmental Studies.
  • Arts & Humanities

    See more schools with programs in Arts & Humanities
    • English Language and Literature See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
      • English Language and Literature
        A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples.
        See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
    • Film and Theater See more schools with programs in Film and Theater
      • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
        A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. Includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles and types, and the principles of organizing and producing full live or filmed productions.
        See more schools with programs in Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
    • Foreign Languages See more schools with programs in Foreign Languages
      • Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature
        Students of Classical Greek study the language and literature from its origins through the fall of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire. Programs may focus on the language as a secular and/or theological subject, with instruction in Greek philology, Attic dialects, Hellenistic dialects, Koine (Biblical) Greek, and Medieval or Byzantine Greek.
        See more schools with programs in Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature
      • Classics and Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
        This general program focuses on the literary culture of the ancient Graeco-Roman world and the Greek and Latin languages and literatures and their development prior to the fall of the Roman Empire.
        See more schools with programs in Classics and Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
      • French Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the French language and related dialects and creoles. Includes instruction in French philology, Metropolitan French, Canadian French, African and Caribbean Creoles, French regional dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
        See more schools with programs in French Language and Literature
      • German Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the German language and related dialects as used in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, neighboring European countries containing German-speaking minorities, and elsewhere. Includes instruction in German philology; Old, Middle, and High German; Plattdeutsch and other regional dialects; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
        See more schools with programs in German Language and Literature
      • Latin Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Latin language and literature from its origins through its decline and its current ecclesiastical usage, as a secular and/or theological subject. Includes instruction in Latin philology, related Italic dialects, Late Roman and Medieval Latin, and modern Church Latin.
        See more schools with programs in Latin Language and Literature
      • Norwegian Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Norwegian language and related dialects. Includes instruction in Norwegian philology, Bokmal and Nynorsk dialects, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
        See more schools with programs in Norwegian Language and Literature
      • Russian Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Russian language. Includes instruction in Russian philology, Old Russian, Modern Russian and dialects, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.
        See more schools with programs in Russian Language and Literature
      • Spanish Language and Literature
        A program that focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects. Includes instruction in Spanish philology, Modern Castillan, various Latin American dialects, regional Spanish dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.
        See more schools with programs in Spanish Language and Literature
    • General Studies See more schools with programs in General Studies
      • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
        A program that is a structured combination of the arts, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, emphasizing breadth of study. Includes instruction in independently designed, individualized, or regular programs.
        See more schools with programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
    • History See more schools with programs in History
      • History
        A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.
        See more schools with programs in History
    • Music See more schools with programs in Music
      • General Music
        A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media.
        See more schools with programs in General Music
      • Music Performance
        A program that generally prepares individuals to master musical instruments and performing art as solo and/or ensemble performers. Includes instruction on one or more specific instruments from various instrumental groupings.
        See more schools with programs in Music Performance
      • Music Theory and Composition
        A program that focuses on the study of the principles of sound manipulation as applied to the creation of music, and the techniques of creating and arranging music. Includes instruction in aural theory, melody, counterpoint, complex harmony, modulation, chromatics, improvisation, progressions, musical writing, instrumentation, orchestration, electronic and computer applications, studies of specific musical styles, and development of original creative ability.
        See more schools with programs in Music Theory and Composition
      • Other Music
        See more schools with programs in Other Music
    • Performing Arts See more schools with programs in Performing Arts
      • General Dance
        A general program that prepares individuals to express ideas, feelings, and/or inner visions through the performance of one or more of the dance disciplines, including but not limited to ballet, modern, jazz, ethnic, and folk dance, and that focuses on the study and analysis of dance as a cultural phenomenon. Includes instruction in technique, choreography, Laban notation, dance history and criticism, and dance production.
        See more schools with programs in General Dance
    • Philosophy See more schools with programs in Philosophy
      • General Philosophy
        A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
        See more schools with programs in General Philosophy
    • Religion/Religious Studies See more schools with programs in Religion/Religious Studies
      • General Religion/Religious Studies
        A program that focuses on the nature of religious belief and specific religious and quasi-religious systems. Includes instruction in phenomenology; the sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, literature and art of religion; mythology; scriptural and textual studies; religious history and politics; and specific studies of particular faith communities and their behavior.
        See more schools with programs in General Religion/Religious Studies
    • Visual and Performing Arts See more schools with programs in Visual and Performing Arts
      • Visual and Performing Arts
        A general, undifferentiated program that focuses on the visual and performing arts and that may prepare individuals in any of the visual artistic media or performing disciplines.
        See more schools with programs in Visual and Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts See more schools with programs in Visual Arts
      • Art History, Criticism and Conservation
        Students of Art History study of the historical development of art as a social and intellectual phenomenon. Art History programs include the analysis of works of art, and art conservation, art history research methods, connoisseurship, the preservation and conservation of works of art, and the study of specific periods, cultures, styles, and themes.
        See more schools with programs in Art History, Criticism and Conservation
      • Art/Art Studies
        Art and Art Studies is a general, introductory program that focuses on the study and appreciation of the visual arts. Students of these two or four year programs receive instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media.
        See more schools with programs in Art/Art Studies
  • Education

    See more schools with programs in Education
    • Teacher Training See more schools with programs in Teacher Training
      • Music Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach music and music appreciation programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Music Teacher Education
      • Social Studies Teacher Education
        A program that prepares individuals to teach general social studies programs at various educational levels.
        See more schools with programs in Social Studies Teacher Education
  • Family and Consumer Science Professions

    See more schools with programs in Family and Consumer Science Professions
    • Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services See more schools with programs in Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
      • Human Development and Family Studies
        A general program that focuses on basic human developmental and behavioral characteristics of the individual within the context of the family. Includes instruction in the conditions that influence human growth and development; strategies that promote growth and development across the life span; and the study of family systems.
        See more schools with programs in Human Development and Family Studies
  • Fitness, Recreation and Leisure Studies

    See more schools with programs in Fitness, Recreation and Leisure Studies
    • Physical Fitness See more schools with programs in Physical Fitness
      • Kinesiology and Exercise Science
        A scientific program that focuses on the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and biophysics of human movement, and applications to exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation. Includes instruction in biomechanics, motor behavior, motor development and coordination, motor neurophysiology, performance research, rehabilitative therapies, the development of diagnostic and rehabilitative methods and equipment, and related analytical methods and procedures in applied exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation .
        See more schools with programs in Kinesiology and Exercise Science
  • Health & Medical Services

    See more schools with programs in Health & Medical Services
    • Nursing See more schools with programs in Nursing
      • Nursing - Registered Nurse Training (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
        A program that generally prepares individuals in the knowledge, techniques and procedures for promoting health, providing care for sick, disabled, informed, or other individuals or groups. Includes instruction in the administration of medication and treatments, assisting a physician during treatments and examinations, Referring patients to physicians and other health care specialists, and planning education for health maintenance.
        See more schools with programs in Nursing - Registered Nurse Training (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
  • Interdisciplinary Studies

    See more schools with programs in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Ancient Studies/Civilization
      This program studies the cultures of Pre-history and Antiquity. Students in this program can focus on the following disciplines: ancient languages, archeology, history, art history, geography, population studies, environmental studies, religious studies, and the social sciences.
      See more schools with programs in Ancient Studies/Civilization
    • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
      Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
      See more schools with programs in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Life Science

    See more schools with programs in Life Science
    • Biology See more schools with programs in Biology
      • Biology/Biological Sciences
        Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.
        See more schools with programs in Biology/Biological Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics

    See more schools with programs in Mathematics and Statistics
    • General Mathematics
      A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.
      See more schools with programs in General Mathematics
  • Natural Sciences

    See more schools with programs in Natural Sciences
    • Chemistry See more schools with programs in Chemistry
      • General Chemistry
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
        See more schools with programs in General Chemistry
    • Physics See more schools with programs in Physics
      • General Physics
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.
        See more schools with programs in General Physics
  • Social Sciences

    See more schools with programs in Social Sciences
    • Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies See more schools with programs in Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies
      • American/United States Studies/Civilization
        This program studies the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the United States and its Pre-Columbian and colonial predecessors, including the flow of immigrants from other societies.
        See more schools with programs in American/United States Studies/Civilization
      • Asian Studies/Civilization
        This four year program focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the peoples of the Asian Continent. Asian Studies programs include the study of Asian diasporas overseas.
        See more schools with programs in Asian Studies/Civilization
      • Latin American Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the Hispanic peoples of the North and South American Continents outside Canada and the United States, including the study of the Pre-Columbian period and the flow of immigrants from other societies.
        See more schools with programs in Latin American Studies
      • Other Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies
        See more schools with programs in Other Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies
      • Russian Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the peoples of the Russian Federation and its Soviet, Czarist, and medieval predecessors and related borderlands.
        See more schools with programs in Russian Studies
      • Women’s Studies
        A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of women, and the development of modern feminism in relation to the roles played by women in different periods and locations in North America and the world. Programs may focus on literature, philosophy, and the arts as much as on social studies and policy.
        See more schools with programs in Women’s Studies
    • Economics See more schools with programs in Economics
      • General Economics
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
        See more schools with programs in General Economics
    • International Relations and Affairs See more schools with programs in International Relations and Affairs
      • General Political Science and Government
        A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes.
        See more schools with programs in General Political Science and Government
    • Psychology See more schools with programs in Psychology
      • General Psychology
        A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.
        See more schools with programs in General Psychology
    • Sociology See more schools with programs in Sociology
      • Sociology
        A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.
        See more schools with programs in Sociology
  • Social Work

    See more schools with programs in Social Work
    • General Social Work
      A program that prepares individuals for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counseling, and that focus on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. Includes instruction in social welfare policy; case work planning; social counseling and intervention strategies; administrative procedures and regulations; and specific applications in areas such as child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counseling.
      See more schools with programs in General Social Work
  • Technology

    See more schools with programs in Technology
    • Information Systems Operation and Management See more schools with programs in Information Systems Operation and Management
      • General Computer Science
        A general program that focuses on computers, computing problems and solutions, and the design of computer systems and user interfaces from a scientific perspective. Includes instruction in the principles of computational science, and computing theory; computer hardware design; computer development and programming; and applications to a variety of end-use situations.
        See more schools with programs in General Computer Science

Students

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 100%
Part-Time 0%
Men vs. Women
Women 56%
Men 44%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 85%
Other 9%
Asian 4%
Hispanic 1%
African-American 1%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 56%
Out-of-State 44%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Minnesota 56%
Wisconsin 9%
Iowa 5%
Oregon 3%
Illinois 2%
Percent of Students International: 1%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 89%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (Minnesota Intercollegiate Ath Conf)
Basketball (Minnesota Intercollegiate Ath Conf)
Baseball (Minnesota Intercollegiate Ath Conf)
Track (Minnesota Intercollegiate Ath Conf)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) Expenses  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 26,500    
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 4,083 17%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 3,407 20%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 10,282 85%  
Student Loans:
$ 4,537 68%  
Any Aid:
  89%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 73% (Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 46%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 590, Math: 580
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 700, Math: 690
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 85%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 25, Verbal: 24, Math: 24
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 30, Verbal: 31, Math: 29

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 35.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Recommended
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

College Advice

Yahoo

Question: Is St. Olaf College good?

15 months ago

Best Answer

Yes! It is excellent!

Question: Where do St. Olaf College student's hang out?

Are there any specific restaurants or other places (bowling) that are by the campus? I want to get my little cousin a gift certificate to a place she can use around there, but she will be in a dorm with no car. Any suggestions that are not totally generic like Applebee's. I want to get her something that she can use there. Please help!!!
31 months ago

Best Answer

Um YAH YAH! Rueb-n-Stein is a good hang-out, or the Jesse James Lanes, although these places may not do gift certificates. I am not sure Hogan Brothers is still in business, but that's a great sub-shop if it's still around. Treats is also great, again, if it's still around (it's been a couple of years for me) A gift certificate to the bookstore could be very useful, too...there are always shirts and hats that are fun there. Like most Ole's, she could probably find a ride or take the bus into Northfield. You're a great cousin.

Question: I'm stuck in my decision between St. Olaf College and Knox College...advice and reason why?

I like the atmosphere and general feeling of St. Olaf College, I think I would really fit in well there. I want to go there, but there pre-med program is not as easy as Knox's. At Knox, there is a pre-med program that sets you up to go to University of Washington or Rush in Chicago that makes it easier to get in to them as a grad as long as you get higher than B's and impress the schools on the interview. The program is great, but I don't really like the feel I get from visiting Knox as much as St. Olaf. For me, St. Olaf immediately clicked, whereas Knox didn't exactly feel right. I know I won't decide only from this, but ideas would help. Thanks!
34 months ago

Best Answer

Well I'm not knowledgeable about St. Olaf but Knox I know. Firstly, Galesburg is a depressing location. I spent the whole weekend with the swim team while visiting the campus (I wanted to swim but man). The whole admissions process was weird. I went to Bradley University instead.

Photos

  • [source]
  • Crown Prince Haakon of Norway speaking at St. Olaf in 2005
    Crown Prince Haakon of Norway speaking at St. Olaf in 2005 [source]
  • Old Main
    Old Main [source]
  • St. Olaf's wind turbine, which directly powers one-third of the campus.
    St. Olaf's wind turbine, which directly powers one-third of the campus. [source]
  • Steensland Hall has had multiple purposes for over a century. A symbol of the college's past, it presently houses International & Off-Campus Studies.
    Steensland Hall has had multiple purposes for over a century. A symbol of the college's past, it presently houses International & Off-Campus Studies. [source]
  • St. Olaf College
    St. Olaf College [source]
Get Admissions Information on St. Olaf College! (It only takes a minute!)
STEP 1 2

Our goal at Campus Explorer is to provide you with the most comprehensive information on colleges and universities. We scour the Web and pull from only the most reliable and accurate sources to give you extensive data on a school, its history and mission, the students, estimated school expenses, academics or degree programs and much more. It is our mission to help you make the best decision for your educational goals and future.

Our resources include:

The schools themselves (Are you a school administrator? Contact us if you would like to update your school's profile.)

And even Campus Explorer Members like you!

For even more up-to-date and accurate materials on admissions, applications and expenses, request information on St. Olaf College now.