UChicago vs. St Olaf

University of Chicago and St Olaf College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Chicago
St Olaf College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UChicago (4.5% admitted vs 48.3%). Typical SAT 1550 vs 1390.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $28,060 at UChicago vs $26,756 at St Olaf. UChicago in-state tuition is about $10,902 more per year.
  • Graduation: UChicago 92% vs St Olaf 85%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UChicago $98,500 vs St Olaf $53,700 (median).
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Key differences

University of Chicago St Olaf College
Acceptance rate
UChicago more selective
UChicago4.5%
St Olaf48.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UChicago higher
UChicago1510-1580
St Olaf1300-1470
Average net price
About even
UChicago$28,060
St Olaf$26,756
In-state tuition
St Olaf $10,902 less
UChicago$70,662
St Olaf$59,760
Out-of-state tuition
St Olaf $10,902 less
UChicago$70,662
St Olaf$59,760
Graduation rate
UChicago +7 pts
UChicago92%
St Olaf85%
Median earnings (10 years)
UChicago +$44,800
UChicago$98,500
St Olaf$53,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UChicago 43,612
  • St Olaf 6,623
  • Admitted
  • UChicago 1,955
  • St Olaf 3,200
  • Acceptance rate
  • UChicago 4.5%
  • St Olaf 48.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UChicago 88.3%
  • St Olaf 26.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UChicago 1550
  • St Olaf 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • UChicago 34
  • St Olaf 30
  • Average high school GPA
  • UChicago 3.95
  • St Olaf 3.68
  • Typical high school grades
  • UChicago A
  • St Olaf A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UChicago Elite
  • St Olaf Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • UChicago Extreme
  • St Olaf Low
  • SAT range
  • UChicago 1510-1580
  • St Olaf 1300-1470
  • ACT range
  • UChicago 34-35
  • St Olaf 28-32
  • Submit test scores
  • UChicago Test optional
  • St Olaf Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UChicago
  • St Olaf Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • St Olaf $59,760
  • Room & board
  • UChicago $20,109
  • St Olaf $13,630
  • Average net price
  • UChicago $28,060
  • St Olaf $26,756
  • Average grant aid
  • UChicago $62,300
  • St Olaf $45,098
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UChicago 47%
  • St Olaf 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • UChicago 92%
  • St Olaf 85%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UChicago $98,500
  • St Olaf $53,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • UChicago 86%
  • St Olaf 91%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UChicago $14,500
  • St Olaf $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • UChicago $149
  • St Olaf $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UChicago 5:1
  • St Olaf 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • UChicago
    • Social Sciences (38%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • St Olaf
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
  • Location
  • UChicago Chicago, IL
  • St Olaf Northfield, MN
  • Setting
  • UChicago Large City
  • St Olaf Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UChicago 18,566
  • St Olaf 3,124
  • Type
  • UChicago Private 4 Year
  • St Olaf Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UChicago #6
  • St Olaf #143

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Chicago in Chicago, IL with St Olaf College in Northfield, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Chicago is larger than St Olaf based on total student enrollment (18,566 students vs. 3,124 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); St Olaf College is in Northfield, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Olaf College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Chicago 5:1; St Olaf College 11:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St Olaf College are 32.2% lower than at University of Chicago ($13,630 vs. $20,109).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.2% higher at UChicago than at St Olaf College (about $10,902 more per year; $70,662 vs. $59,760).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at St Olaf College than at University of Chicago (100% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Chicago students is 38.1% larger than aid received by St Olaf College students ($62,300 vs. $45,098).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at UChicago than at St Olaf (34 vs. 30, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both UChicago and St Olaf.
  • Typical fall application deadline: St Olaf Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UChicago average a 3.95 high school GPA, 0.27 higher than at St Olaf (3.68).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at UChicago vs. 26.8% at St Olaf.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Chicago graduates have a $12,500 lower median loan debt than St Olaf graduates ($14,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UChicago graduates have an estimated $130 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St Olaf graduates ($149 vs. $279).
  • More St Olaf graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UChicago students, three years after graduation (91% vs. 86%).

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

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