Bethel University vs. St Olaf

Should I go to Bethel University or St Olaf College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bethel University or St Olaf is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bethel University vs. St Olaf College comparison
Bethel University St Olaf College College 3 College 4
Bethel University St Olaf College
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Overview

Bethel University St Olaf
Location Saint Paul, MN Northfield, MN
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 3,546 3,046
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #238 #156
Religious Affiliation Baptist Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bethel.edu stolaf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bethel University St Olaf
Tuition (In State) $41,110 $54,650
Tuition (Out of State) $41,110 $54,650
Room & Board $11,490 $12,450
Avg Net Price $29,915 $26,171
Avg Grant Aid $24,586 $40,399
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 99%

Admission

Bethel University St Olaf
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,199 5,524
Admitted 1,594 3,116
Acceptance Rate 72.5% 56.4%
Enrolled % 27.9% 27.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/28 28/33
SAT Range 1123/1343 1300/1480
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Bethel University St Olaf
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Mathematics (8%)

Outcomes

Bethel University St Olaf
Graduation Rate 73% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,100 $53,700
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,400 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $252 $279

Diversity

Bethel University St Olaf
% Men 38% 42%
% Women 62% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 75%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

Bethel University St Olaf
% In-State 79% 47%
% Out-of-State 21% 43%

Campus

Bethel University St Olaf
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bethel University is larger than than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (3,546 students vs. 3,046 students)

Bethel University vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bethel University or St Olaf?

  • St Olaf College is 32.9% more expensive to attend than Bethel University for in-state tuition ($54,650.00 vs. $41,110.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.9% higher at St Olaf than Bethel University ($54,650.00 vs. $41,110.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at St Olaf College than Bethel University ($26,171 vs. $29,915)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 8.4% lower than costs at St Olaf College ($11,490 vs. $12,450)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College than Bethel University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 64.3% larger than aid received Bethel University ($40,399 vs. $24,586)

Bethel University vs. St Olaf Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bethel University or St Olaf? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St Olaf or Bethel University .

  • The average SAT score at St Olaf College (1282) is 155 points higher than at Bethel University (1127)
  • Incoming St Olaf students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Bethel University (25)
  • Accepted freshman St Olaf students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Bethel University (3.6)
  • Bethel University has a higher acceptance rate (72.5%) than St Olaf (56.4%)

Bethel University vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bethel University or St Olaf? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between St Olaf and Bethel University.

  • The graduation rate at St Olaf is higher than Bethel University (85% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from St Olaf College earn on average $3,600 more per year than Bethel University graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $50,100)
  • Bethel University students graduate with a $2,600 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($24,400 vs. $27,000)
  • Bethel University graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($252 vs. $279)
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel University students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/