Sterling College vs St Olaf College
Sterling College and St Olaf College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Sterling College, nestled in the picturesque town of Craftsbury Common, Vermont, prides itself on its intimate learning environment, with an acceptance rate of 80% and an average class size of 12. St Olaf College, located in the vibrant city of Northfield, Minnesota, boasts a more selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 49% and an average class size of 20. While Sterling College excels in Environmental Science and Sustainability, St Olaf College shines in Music and Nursing. Sterling College's student body is predominantly White (87%), while St Olaf College's student body is more diverse, with 78% White, 7% Asian, and 5% Hispanic. Both colleges boast impressive graduation rates, with Sterling College at 75% and St Olaf College at 84%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two
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![]() St Olaf College |
![]() Sterling College |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Sterling, Kansas |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 55.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 47.4% | 47.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$25
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SAT range | 1240 - 1430 | 996 - 1166 |
ACT range | 28 - 33 | 18 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 16.0% | 12.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 33.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,494 | 2,574 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,080 | 1,220 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 755 | 206 |
Yield rate | 24.5% | 16.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $66,570 | $42,886 |
Average net price | $27,729 | $22,377 |
Tuition | $52,670 | $27,000 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,720
Meal plan:
$6,280
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Room/dormitory:
$3,516
Meal plan:
$5,608
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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 |
100.0%
Average amount $18,158 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,006 |
70.0%
Average amount $5,750 |
Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $15,087 |
8.0%
Average amount $11,649 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,988
Men 42.2% Women 57.8% |
686
Men 59.0% Women 41.0% |
Graduate students | N/A |
14
Men 14.3% Women 85.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 10.2% | 5.3% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Rural: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 2,703 | 635 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 85.0% | 43.2% |
Dropout rate | 3.9% | 25.2% |
Transferred out | 11.0% | 30.9% |
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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Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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