Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at St Olaf College vary significantly by field of study. These rankings evaluate each program by post-graduation earnings, debt burden, and return on investment — not prestige or reputation.
Use this analysis to compare programs and understand which fields deliver the strongest outcomes.
Analyzing 25 programs with available earnings data.
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at St Olaf College.
Computer Science. leads engineering & technology with 123K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science. | — | $122,912 | — | 24 |
Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. leads health with 61K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | — | $60,623 | — | 20 |
Mathematics. leads sciences & mathematics with 88K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics. | — | $87,691★ | — | 75 |
| Biology, General. | — | $62,818 | — | 111 |
| Physics.Small sample | — | $39,009 | — | 17 |
| Chemistry. | — | $38,829 | — | 30 |
Economics. leads social sciences & policy with 85K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | — | $84,559★ | — | 80 |
| Sociology and Anthropology. | — | $60,225 | — | 28 |
| Political Science and Government. | — | $57,869 | — | 67 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | — | $56,282 | — | 75 |
| Social Work.Small sample | — | $50,611 | — | 14 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. leads humanities & arts with 53K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | — | $53,232★ | — | 27 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | — | $49,382 | — | 50 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.Small sample | — | $45,023 | — | 14 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | — | $44,287 | — | 39 |
| History. | — | $42,538 | — | 25 |
| Music. | — | $42,439 | — | 47 |
| Religion/Religious Studies.Small sample | — | $37,335 | — | 16 |
| Philosophy.Small sample | — | $35,416 | — | 18 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.Small sample | — | $27,328 | — | 18 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. leads education with 52K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | — | $51,909 | — | 22 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research. leads agriculture & environment with 48K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | — | $48,137 | — | 31 |
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. leads other & interdisciplinary with 66K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness.Small sample | — | $66,314★ | — | 15 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | — | $54,100 | — | 32 |
| Area Studies. | — | $47,677 | — | 22 |
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
