ST. OLAF COLLEGE, NORTHFIELD, MN
If you’re seeking a classic residential liberal arts college experience, check out St. Olaf. This campus shines with old world charm – classic architecture, wide greens and spectacular views of the town below. Whether you’re interested in pursuing hard sciences or the arts, St. Olaf has much to offer including a welcoming community of smart and talented students. It offers accredited programs in nursing, dance, music and more!
• Private, affiliated with Lutheran church, but only about 10% of students are Lutheran
• Undergraduate enrollment of about 3000
• Admit rate – 52%
• Financial Aid forms required – FAFSA and CSS Profile
• Retention rate – 91%
• Average Class size 23
CURRICULUM
• Music is one of their strongest programs offering a Bachelor of Music
• Nursing students can be admitted directly and are eligible to take the RN exam upon graduation
• Some niche majors include Norwegian and Nordic Studies – a nod to their founders
• Home to the largest Kierkegaard collection outside of Denmark
• Curriculum is based on distribution requirements offering a bit of flexibility. First year writing sears are required as is Theology, but the courses are not limited to Lutheran ideologies. With a focus on discourse and the idea of vocation, students are asked to join “conversations” to explore a topic of their choosing
• Offer a January term
• Cross over schools include Carleton and Macalester
STUDENT BODY
• Inclusive, offering many living and learning community options, including the Lavender House
• Fun traditions include Flower Fridays when students can order and send flowers to friends both at Olaf and their neighbors at Carleton College
• And no locks on those mailboxes – this is a honorable student body
• More than 1/2 of Oles participate in sports – ice hockey is king, and Men’s Soccer are recent D3 National Champs
200+ clubs and plenty of programming/events offered on the weekends – including a student-run nightclub!
• St. Olaf is a dry campus
• Just about an hour from Minneapolis, Oles hail from 40 states and 66 countries – though just under half are from Minnesota
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
• Applications are reviewed holistically with an eye towards academics, curiosity and character
• Interview may be considered
• Apply to school in general or to a specific major
• Considers Demonstrated Interest
FINANCIALS
• Merit and Need based aid
• 99% of students receive aid
• ED students earn a minimum scholarship of $25k
photo courtesy St. Olaf College
