St. Olaf College

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St. Olaf at a Glance

Location:
Northfield, MN
Setting:
Town
Control:
Private Non-Profit
In-State Tuition:
$35,500
Out-of-State Tuition:
$35,500
Room & Board:
$8,500
Full-Time Undergrads:
3,028
Part-Time Undergrads:
71
More statistics . . .
School Website:
www.stolaf.edu
Admissions Website:
www.stolaf.edu/admissions
Financial Aid Website:
www.stolaf.edu/admissions/financialaid
Application Deadline:
January 15
Acceptance Rate:
57 %
Admission Difficulty:
Average
Average SAT Scores:
1780–2130
Average ACT Scores:
26–31

Best Things

Worst Things

  • Clueless people who bring up The Golden Girls when you tell them where you go to school
  • The dating problem
  • The dry campus
  • Everything closes at midnight
  • More worst things . . .

Most Popular Majors

  • Social Sciences & Liberal Arts
  • Languages and Literature
  • Arts
  • Biological Sciences
  • More majors . . .

Overall ExperienceWhat's This?

t’s not uncommon at St. Olaf to run into second-, third-, or even fourth-generation Oles. This fact, coupled with the school’s outstanding 94 percent retention rate, shows that there is obviously something that keeps drawing current students, alumni, and their children back to the Hill. Sure, if you ask current students walking across campus in mid-February about their overall experience of St. Olaf, they probably won’t extol many praises. But if you catch them when it’s over 45 degrees, you’re sure to hear nothing but great things.

Despite the long winters, the course work, and the stress of life in general, campus is an extraordinarily happy place to be—and it shows. The zombification of students that occurs at other schools (bags under the eyes, clammy hands desperately clutching coffee tumblers, etc.) is a rarity at Olaf. Even in the dead of winter, most Oles are good-humored, friendly people who seem overjoyed to be right where they are. St. Olaf really offers students a wholesome four years, and I don’t mean “wholesome” in the cheesy 7th Heaven way. The school makes a point of nurturing the entire individual. You aren’t seen as an academic machine, you are seen as a person who needs a social and spiritual life in addition to a scholarly one. Olaf truly is a healthy place to be.

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St. Olaf Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Strictness at St. Olaf College

eastssideboy

Biological Sciences '14

1.9
C-

Super Strict

Remember, its a dry campus. Also I was told once to walk on the sidewalk by public safety...really? Theres barely any traffic and I was walking towards oncoming traffic. Sesh

May 25, 2012

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Health & Safety at St. Olaf College

dreadove

Dance '13

5.0
A+

Very Safe Campus

The campus is very safe. Of course it is always good to pay attention to your surroundings. But most people feel safe walking across campus late at night. I would keep your dorm room locked because there are occasional instances of things disappearing. Most students feel very safe leaving their backpacks somewhere when eating in the caf or leaving for a moment. Some even feel safe leaving their computer, although I personally wouldn't do this anywhere. Campus safety definitely has a presence and can get to you quickly when needed. A volunteer EMT team works with campus safety.

May 10, 2012

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Athletics at St. Olaf College

dreadove

Dance '13

4.6
A

Athletics

There are many options in team sports as well as recreational. St. Olaf is a Division III school. All of the teams compete well. The athletic facilities are excellent. The coaches are all great role models and good at what they do.

May 10, 2012

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User rating for St. Olaf College is 3.5 out of 5 based on 303 user reviews.

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