Whittier College vs St Olaf College
Whittier College and St Olaf College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Whittier College, nestled in the vibrant city of Whittier, California, boasts an acceptance rate of 68%, while St Olaf College, located in the charming town of Northfield, Minnesota, has a more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 48%. Both colleges offer a diverse range of academic programs, with popular majors at Whittier College including Business Administration, Psychology, and Biology, and popular majors at St Olaf College including Biology, Economics, and Music. Whittier College's student body is predominantly female (60%), while St Olaf College has a more balanced gender ratio with 49% female and 51% male students. With graduation rates of 75% and 84% respectively, both colleges are committed to student success and ensuring their graduates are well-prepared for their future careers. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have
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![]() St Olaf College |
![]() Whittier College |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Whittier, California |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
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% | 82.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 47.4% | 82.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$70
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SAT range | 1240 - 1430 | 1120 - 1340 |
ACT range | 28 - 33 | 23 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 16.0% | 11.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 9.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,494 | 2,884 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,080 | 2,379 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 755 | 277 |
Yield rate | 24.5% | 11.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | 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 | $61,014 |
Average net price | $27,729 | $22,091 |
Tuition | $52,670 | $48,924 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,720
Meal plan:
$6,280
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Room/dormitory:
$8,216
Meal plan:
$6,756
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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 |
97.0%
Average amount $32,645 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,006 |
65.0%
Average amount $5,040 |
Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $15,087 |
6.0%
Average amount $17,379 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,988
Men 42.2% Women 57.8% |
1,325
Men 43.7% Women 56.3% |
Graduate students | N/A |
62
Men 25.8% Women 74.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 10.2% | 6.3% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,703 | 849 |
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 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 85.0% | 63.6% |
Dropout rate | 3.9% | 3.6% |
Transferred out | 11.0% | 31.9% |
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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Law (First Professional Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Social Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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