Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UChicago Notre Dame Duke Vanderbilt WUSTL Johns Hopkins Cornell Carleton College Georgetown Michigan Stanford Loyola| Northwestern University | St Olaf College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northwestern | St Olaf | ||
| Location | Evanston, IL | Northfield, MN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 23,161 | 3,046 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #15 | #156 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northwestern.edu | stolaf.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northwestern | St Olaf | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,391 | $54,650 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,391 | $54,650 | ||
| Room & Board | $19,440 | $12,450 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,095 | $26,171 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $61,716 | $40,399 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 99% |
Admission |
Northwestern | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 51,261 | 5,524 | ||
| Admitted | 3,695 | 3,116 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 7.2% | 56.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 55.2% | 27.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.92 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 28/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1570 | 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 | Jan 1, 2024 | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
Northwestern | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northwestern | St Olaf | ||
| Graduation Rate | 94% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $89,800 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 91% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,378 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $200 | $279 |
Diversity |
Northwestern | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 46% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 54% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 50% | 75% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 8% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Northwestern | St Olaf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 22% | 47% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 67% | 43% | ||
Campus |
Northwestern | St Olaf | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northwestern University is larger than than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (23,161 students vs. 3,046 students)
Northwestern vs. St Olaf Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or St Olaf?
- Northwestern University is 14.2% more expensive to attend than St Olaf for in-state tuition ($62,391.00 vs. $54,650.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.2% higher at Northwestern than St Olaf College ($62,391.00 vs. $54,650.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than St Olaf ($22,095 vs. $26,171)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 56.1% lower than costs at Northwestern University ($12,450 vs. $19,440)
- More students receive financial grant aid at St Olaf College than Northwestern University (99% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 52.8% larger than aid received St Olaf College ($61,716 vs. $40,399)
Northwestern vs. St Olaf Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern or St Olaf? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between St Olaf or Northwestern .
- The average SAT score at Northwestern University (1460) is 178 points higher than at St Olaf (1282)
- Incoming Northwestern students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at St Olaf (29)
- Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at St Olaf (3.68)
- St Olaf has a higher acceptance rate (56.4%) than Northwestern (7.2%)
Northwestern vs. St Olaf Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northwestern 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 Northwestern.
- The graduation rate at Northwestern is higher than St Olaf College (94% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Northwestern University earn on average $36,100 more per year than St Olaf graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $53,700)
- Northwestern University students graduate with a $7,622 lower median federal student loan debt than St Olaf graduates. ($19,378 vs. $27,000)
- Northwestern graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than St Olaf graduates. ($200 vs. $279)
- More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northwestern students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 87%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/