Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks St Olaf College #990 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,675 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 7.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks St Olaf College #574 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. St Olaf College's composite ranking reflects strong mobility outcomes balanced with broad access at private-college pricing. The institution's median earnings performance exceeds expectations for similar students nationwide.
Azimuth ranks St Olaf College #990 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 32.7 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Northfield, Minnesota, St Olaf College enrolls roughly 3,093 undergraduates. Retention stands at 92.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 84.0%, reflecting strong student persistence through degree completion. Where St Olaf College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks St Olaf College #1132 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 23.5 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,323, placing St Olaf College in the 31.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,675 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing St Olaf College in the 7.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability shape the institution's composite position. St Olaf College enrolls 21.2% Pell-eligible students and 12.9% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a student body with meaningful economic and educational diversity. The institution sits in the 53.1 percentile for access and the 25.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes place the college in the 61.3 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, indicating that low-income and first-generation graduates convert their education into durable career and earnings gains at rates comparable to or better than peer institutions.
St Olaf College's published cost of attendance is $71,843. Financial aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $10,404; middle-income families pay around $12,584; higher-income families pay approximately $33,166. Azimuth ranks St Olaf College #1066 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. St Olaf's aid structure is need-based, with no merit component. The college meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under current financial aid policies. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The aid package may include need-based scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans; the college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,568; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,323, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
St Olaf College is a fit for students who want a private nonprofit four-year option in MN and are weighing outcomes against cost. Azimuth ranks St Olaf College #996 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,323, placing St Olaf College in the 31.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,675 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 7.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $71,843. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $10,404, middle-income families pay around $12,584, higher-income families pay approximately $33,166. Students should weigh those current cost and earnings figures against the school's program mix before treating the fit as primarily an earnings, affordability, or access story.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the St Olaf College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
St Olaf College's published cost of attendance is $71,843. Financial aid reshapes that figure substantially across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $10,404; middle-income families pay around $12,584; higher-income families pay approximately $33,166. Azimuth ranks St Olaf College #1066 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. St Olaf's aid structure is need-based, with no merit component.
The college meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under current financial aid policies. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The aid package may include need-based scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans; the college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,568; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,323, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of St Olaf College earn median 4-year earnings of $56,323, placing St Olaf College in the 31.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,675 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing St Olaf College in the 7.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks St Olaf College #1132 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects St Olaf College's concentration in Social Sciences, which anchors the institution's long-term financial outcomes.
Biology, General is the largest program with 111 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,818, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Economics program graduates 80 students earning median 4-year earnings of $84,559, while Mathematics delivers median 4-year earnings of $87,691 across 75 graduates.
Research Psychology and Political Science round out the top programs, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $56,282 and $57,869 respectively. This program mix — anchored in Social Sciences at 18%, supplemented by Arts at 11% and other STEM fields at 5% — supports consistent outcomes across a mixed enrollment.
Computer Science
24 graduates
Mathematics
75 graduates
Economics
80 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
15 graduates
Biology, General
111 graduates
St Olaf College's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences — a signature reflected across the institution's largest degree programs. Biology, General is the largest program with 111 graduates, followed by Economics, Mathematics, Research Psychology, and Political Science.
Across 31 total programs serving roughly 960 students annually, this concentration in Social Sciences shapes both the institution's academic identity and graduate outcomes. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in specific subfields within the broader Social Sciences family and related applied fields.
Mathematics leads with median earnings of $87,691 four years after enrollment, with 75 graduates. Economics follows with 80 graduates earning $84,559, and Biology, General delivers median earnings of $62,818 for 111 graduates.
Political Science and Research Psychology round out the highest-earning programs with $57,869 and $56,282 respectively. This earnings pattern reflects St Olaf College's positioning as a liberal arts college where outcomes vary meaningfully by field choice.
Many of St Olaf College's strongest programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory — particularly in fields like biology, chemistry, and psychology where graduates often continue to graduate or professional school. Others, including business and economics-adjacent fields, are high-mobility direct-to-workforce programs where graduates enter the labor market immediately and earnings reflect national outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how St Olaf College's dominant program families align with labor-market demand and wage growth trends.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gustavus Adolphus College Higher acceptance rate (12.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 40 miles away; similar median earnings four years after completion | MN | 61% | $61,015 | Compare |
Macalester College Same state (33 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | MN | 29% | $58,560 | Compare |
Gettysburg College Similar admission rate (9.4 percentage points difference) and similar test scores (1 point difference) with similar program focus | PA | 39% | $72,658 | Compare |
Maine Maritime Academy 101.2% higher median earnings four years after completion with nearly identical cost | ME | 54% | $113,298 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-River Falls 41.1% lower net price with nearly identical earnings; located 39 miles away | WI | 82% | $54,923 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baker College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $53754 versus $56323; same region (Midwest) | MI | 82% | $53,754 | #965 | Compare |
Baldwin Wallace University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $59094 versus $56323; same region (Midwest) | OH | 76% | $59,094 | #1066 | Compare |
Roosevelt University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $58796 versus $56323; same region (Midwest) | IL | 97% | $58,796 | #704 | Compare |
Calvin University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $60889 versus $56323; same region (Midwest) | MI | 71% | $60,889 | #1141 | Compare |
Hope College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $60573 versus $56323; same region (Midwest) | MI | 79% | $60,573 | #1260 | Compare |
