St Olaf vs. Dakota Wesleyan University

Comparable Facts

Compare St Olaf College in Northfield, MN with Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

St Olaf College is larger than Dakota Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (3,124 students vs. 892 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St Olaf College is located in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting); Dakota Wesleyan University is in Mitchell, SD (Remote Town setting).
• St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dakota Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St Olaf College 11:1; Dakota Wesleyan University 12:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dakota Wesleyan University are 40.6% lower than at St Olaf College ($8,100 vs. $13,630).
• Out-of-state tuition is 76.9% higher at St Olaf than at Dakota Wesleyan University (about $25,970 more per year; $59,760 vs. $33,790).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College as at Dakota Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Olaf College students is 115.7% larger than aid received by Dakota Wesleyan University students ($45,098 vs. $20,910).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 9 points higher at St Olaf than at Dakota Wesleyan University (30 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at St Olaf, test-free at Dakota Wesleyan University.
• Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027; Dakota Wesleyan University Aug 27, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at St Olaf average a 3.68 high school GPA, 0.32 higher than at Dakota Wesleyan University (3.36).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.8% at St Olaf vs. 21% at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dakota Wesleyan University graduates have a $467 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($26,533 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dakota Wesleyan University graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($274 vs. $279).
• More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dakota Wesleyan University students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 71%).

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