MLC vs. St Olaf

Martin Luther College and St Olaf College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Martin Luther College
St Olaf College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: St Olaf (48.3% admitted vs 87.2%). Typical SAT 1390 vs 1170.
  • Cheaper after aid: MLC. Average net price is $18,974 vs $26,756 at St Olaf.
  • Graduation: MLC 73% vs St Olaf 85%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: MLC $38,000 vs St Olaf $53,700 (median).
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Key differences

Martin Luther College St Olaf College
Acceptance rate
St Olaf more selective
MLC87.2%
St Olaf48.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
St Olaf higher
MLC1078-1256
St Olaf1300-1470
Average net price
MLC $7,782 less
MLC$18,974
St Olaf$26,756
In-state tuition
MLC $41,640 less
MLC$18,120
St Olaf$59,760
Out-of-state tuition
MLC $41,640 less
MLC$18,120
St Olaf$59,760
Graduation rate
St Olaf +12 pts
MLC73%
St Olaf85%
Median earnings (10 years)
St Olaf +$15,700
MLC$38,000
St Olaf$53,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • MLC 226
  • St Olaf 6,623
  • Admitted
  • MLC 197
  • St Olaf 3,200
  • Acceptance rate
  • MLC 87.2%
  • St Olaf 48.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • MLC 88.3%
  • St Olaf 26.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MLC 1170
  • St Olaf 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • MLC 24
  • St Olaf 30
  • Average high school GPA
  • MLC 3.56
  • St Olaf 3.68
  • Typical high school grades
  • MLC A-
  • St Olaf A-
  • Admissions standards
  • MLC Average
  • St Olaf Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • MLC
  • St Olaf Low
  • SAT range
  • MLC 1078-1256
  • St Olaf 1300-1470
  • ACT range
  • MLC 22-27
  • St Olaf 28-32
  • Submit test scores
  • MLC Test optional
  • St Olaf Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • MLC
  • St Olaf Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • MLC $18,120
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • MLC $18,120
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Room & board
  • MLC $7,900
  • St Olaf $13,630
  • Average net price
  • MLC $18,974
  • St Olaf $26,756
  • Average grant aid
  • MLC $10,276
  • St Olaf $45,098
  • % receiving grant aid
  • MLC 100%
  • St Olaf 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • MLC 73%
  • St Olaf 85%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • MLC $38,000
  • St Olaf $53,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • MLC 89%
  • St Olaf 91%
  • Median student loan debt
  • MLC $23,125
  • St Olaf $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • MLC $239
  • St Olaf $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • MLC 10:1
  • St Olaf 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • MLC
    • Education (67%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (33%)
  • St Olaf
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
  • Location
  • MLC New Ulm, MN
  • St Olaf Northfield, MN
  • Setting
  • MLC Remote Town
  • St Olaf Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MLC 878
  • St Olaf 3,124
  • Type
  • MLC Private 4 Year
  • St Olaf Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • MLC
  • St Olaf #143

Comparable Facts

Compare Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

St Olaf College is larger than MLC based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 878 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Martin Luther College is located in New Ulm, MN (Remote Town setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Martin Luther College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Martin Luther College 10:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Martin Luther College are 42% lower than at St Olaf College ($7,900 vs. $13,630).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 229.8% higher at St Olaf than at Martin Luther College (about $41,640 more per year; $59,760 vs. $18,120).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Martin Luther College as at St Olaf College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 338.9% larger than aid received by Martin Luther College students ($45,098 vs. $10,276).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at St Olaf than at MLC (30 vs. 24, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both MLC and St Olaf.
  • Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at St Olaf average a 3.68 high school GPA, 0.12 higher than at MLC (3.56).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at MLC vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Martin Luther College graduates have a $3,875 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($23,125 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MLC graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($239 vs. $279).
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MLC students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 89%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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