St Olaf College Acceptance Rate
Northfield, Minnesota · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 5,956
- Admitted
- 3,106
- Yield
- 26.6%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, St Olaf College's acceptance rate has risen from 51.3% in 2014–15 to 52.1% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 4,875 to 5,956 (+22%) over that period.
Its 52.1% rate makes St Olaf College more selective than about 82% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 33 tracked Minnesota schools, it is more selective than about 85%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (56.7% for women vs 46.7% for men, a 10-point gap). St Olaf College has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 26.6% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 4,875 | 2,500 | 51.3% | 765 |
| 2015–16 | 7,571 | 2,723 | 36% | 763 |
| 2016–17 | 6,041 | 2,704 | 44.8% | 824 |
| 2017–18 | 5,949 | 2,571 | 43.2% | 786 |
| 2018–19 | 5,496 | 2,743 | 49.9% | 809 |
| 2019–20 | 5,694 | 2,705 | 47.5% | 806 |
| 2020–21 | 5,231 | 2,658 | 50.8% | 729 |
| 2021–22 | 6,494 | 3,080 | 47.4% | 755 |
| 2022–23 | 5,524 | 3,116 | 56.4% | 869 |
| 2023–24 | 5,956 | 3,106 | 52.1% | 825 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 3,091 | 1,752 | 56.7% |
| Men | 2,722 | 1,272 | 46.7% |
| Another gender | 143 | 82 | 57.3% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 640–740 | 12% |
| SAT Math | 620–730 | |
| ACT Composite | 28–32 | 36% |
How St Olaf College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is St Olaf College's acceptance rate?
St Olaf College's acceptance rate is 52.1% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,106 admitted of 5,956 applicants).
Is St Olaf College test optional?
St Olaf College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to St Olaf College?
St Olaf College received 5,956 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,106.
What SAT score do you need for St Olaf College?
Admitted students at St Olaf College typically scored 640–740 on SAT Reading/Writing and 620–730 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is St Olaf College getting harder to get into?
St Olaf College has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 51.3% in 2014–15 to 52.1% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: wp.stolaf.edu/.