St Olaf College vs Stanford
St Olaf College and Stanford University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. St Olaf, a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, fosters a close-knit community with a strong emphasis on the liberal arts and sciences. Stanford, a private research university in Stanford, California, is renowned for its academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and entrepreneurial spirit. While both universities provide exceptional education, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() St Olaf College |
![]() Stanford University |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Stanford, California |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 98.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 47.4% | 3.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$125
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SAT range | 1240 - 1430 | 1470 - 1570 |
ACT range | 28 - 33 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 16.0% | 15.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 11.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,494 | 55,471 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,080 | 2,190 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 755 | 1,757 |
Yield rate | 24.5% | 80.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $66,570 | $78,898 |
Average net price | $27,729 | $14,402 |
Tuition | $52,670 | $55,473 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,720
Meal plan:
$6,280
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Room/dormitory:
$11,166
Meal plan:
$6,694
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $37,281 |
61.0%
Average amount $56,211 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,006 |
5.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $15,087 |
1.0%
Average amount $17,186 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,988
Men 42.2% Women 57.8% |
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
Graduate students | N/A |
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 58.5% |
International students | 10.2% | 24.4% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,703 | 14,621 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | California Texas Washington New York Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 5:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 85.0% | 95.5% |
Dropout rate | 3.9% | 1.7% |
Transferred out | 11.0% | 0.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology and Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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