St Olaf vs. Wake Forest
St Olaf College and Wake Forest University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.
St Olaf College
Wake Forest University
At a glance
- Harder to get into: Wake Forest (21.7% admitted vs 48.3%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1390.
- Cheaper after aid: Wake Forest. Average net price is $24,401 vs $26,756 at St Olaf.
- Graduation: St Olaf 85% vs Wake Forest 88%.
- Earnings 10 years out: St Olaf $53,700 vs Wake Forest $77,200 (median).
Acceptance rate
Wake Forest more selective
St Olaf48.3%
Wake Forest21.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Wake Forest higher
St Olaf1300-1470
Wake Forest1410-1520
Average net price
Wake Forest $2,355 less
St Olaf$26,756
Wake Forest$24,401
In-state tuition
St Olaf $7,882 less
St Olaf$59,760
Wake Forest$67,642
Out-of-state tuition
St Olaf $7,882 less
St Olaf$59,760
Wake Forest$67,642
Graduation rate
Wake Forest +3 pts
St Olaf85%
Wake Forest88%
Median earnings (10 years)
Wake Forest +$23,500
St Olaf$53,700
Wake Forest$77,200
Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.
Admission calculator
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Admissions
- Admission chances
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St Olaf My Chances
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Wake Forest My Chances
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- Applied
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St Olaf 6,623
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Wake Forest 18,727
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- Admitted
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St Olaf 3,200
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Wake Forest 4,058
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- Acceptance rate
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St Olaf 48.3%
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Wake Forest 21.7%
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- Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
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St Olaf 26.8%
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Wake Forest 36.1%
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- Typical SAT score
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St Olaf 1390
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Wake Forest 1470
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- Typical ACT score
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St Olaf 30
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Wake Forest 33
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- Average high school GPA
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St Olaf 3.68
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Wake Forest -
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- Typical high school grades
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St Olaf A-
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Wake Forest -
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- Admissions standards
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St Olaf Very High
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Wake Forest Exceptional
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- Applicant competition
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St Olaf Low
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Wake Forest Very High
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- SAT range
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St Olaf 1300-1470
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Wake Forest 1410-1520
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- ACT range
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St Olaf 28-32
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Wake Forest 32-34
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- Submit test scores
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St Olaf Test optional
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Wake Forest Test optional
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- Application deadline
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St Olaf Jan 15, 2027
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Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
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Cost
- Tuition (in state)
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St Olaf $59,760
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Wake Forest $67,642
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- Tuition (out of state)
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St Olaf $59,760
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Wake Forest $67,642
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- Room & board
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St Olaf $13,630
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Wake Forest $18,494
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- Average net price
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St Olaf $26,756
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Wake Forest $24,401
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- Average grant aid
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St Olaf $45,098
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Wake Forest $63,117
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- % receiving grant aid
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St Olaf 100%
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Wake Forest 35%
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Outcomes
- Graduation rate
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St Olaf 85%
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Wake Forest 88%
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- Median earnings (after 10 years)
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St Olaf $53,700
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Wake Forest $77,200
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- Making student loan payments
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St Olaf 91%
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Wake Forest 88%
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- Median student loan debt
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St Olaf $27,000
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Wake Forest $23,000
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- Median loan payment
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St Olaf $279
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Wake Forest $237
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Academics
- Student to faculty ratio
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St Olaf 11:1
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Wake Forest 10:1
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- Popular majors
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St Olaf
- Social Sciences (16%)
- Biology (12%)
- Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
- Physical Sciences (8%)
- Mathematics (8%)
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Wake Forest
- Business (21%)
- Social Sciences (20%)
- Communication (8%)
- Biology (7%)
- Psychology (7%)
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School basics
- School
- St Olaf St Olaf College
- Wake Forest Wake Forest University
- Location
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St Olaf Northfield, MN
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Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
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- Setting
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St Olaf Distant Town
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Wake Forest Midsize City
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- Total enrollment
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St Olaf 3,124
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Wake Forest 9,322
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- Type
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St Olaf Private 4 Year
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Wake Forest Private 4 Year
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- National ranking
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St Olaf #143
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Wake Forest #49
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Comparable Facts
Compare St Olaf College in Northfield, MN with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.
Wake Forest University is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (9,322 students vs. 3,124 students).
Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio
- St Olaf College is located in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting); Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting).
- St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: St Olaf College 11:1; Wake Forest University 10:1.
Cost details
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 26.3% lower than at Wake Forest University ($13,630 vs. $18,494).
- Out-of-state tuition is 13.2% higher at Wake Forest than at St Olaf College (about $7,882 more per year; $67,642 vs. $59,760).
- A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at Wake Forest University (100% vs. 35%).
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 40% larger than aid received by St Olaf College students ($63,117 vs. $45,098).
Admissions details
- Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Wake Forest than at St Olaf (33 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
- SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both St Olaf and Wake Forest.
- Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027; Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027.
- The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.8% at St Olaf vs. 36.1% at Wake Forest.
Loans and repayment
- Among federal student loan borrowers, Wake Forest University graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($23,000 vs. $27,000).
- Among borrowers, Wake Forest graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($237 vs. $279).
- More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wake Forest students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 88%).
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.
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