Wisconsin Lutheran vs St Olaf College
Wisconsin Lutheran College and St Olaf College, both rooted in strong Lutheran traditions, offer distinct educational experiences. Wisconsin Lutheran College, a private liberal arts college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, boasts a 99% acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. St Olaf College, a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, has a more selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 48%. While both colleges offer a range of undergraduate programs, Wisconsin Lutheran College is known for its strong nursing and education programs, while St Olaf College excels in music and science. Wisconsin Lutheran College's student body is predominantly White (88%), while St Olaf College has a more diverse student body, with 73% White, 10% Asian, and 6% Hispanic students. With graduation rates of 68% and 83% respectively, both colleges provide students with the support and resources needed to succeed. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences
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![]() St Olaf College |
![]() Wisconsin Lutheran College |
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Overview |
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Location | Northfield, Minnesota | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 80.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical | Evangelical |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 47.4% | 98.0% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1240 - 1430 | 1010 - 1170 |
ACT range | 28 - 33 | 21 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 16.0% | 8.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 39.0% | 62.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,494 | 1,363 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,080 | 1,336 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 755 | 274 |
Yield rate | 24.5% | 20.5% |
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 | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $66,570 | $48,354 |
Average net price | $27,729 | $21,761 |
Tuition | $52,670 | $32,322 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,720
Meal plan:
$6,280
|
$11,050 |
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 $22,728 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,006 |
80.0%
Average amount $5,281 |
Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $15,087 |
18.0%
Average amount $13,586 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,988
Men 42.2% Women 57.8% |
1,031
Men 43.0% Women 57.0% |
Graduate students | N/A |
116
Men 27.6% Women 72.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 29.2% |
International students | 10.2% | 0.7% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,703 | 731 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Wisconsin Illinois Texas Louisiana Michigan |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 85.0% | 61.0% |
Dropout rate | 3.9% | 8.6% |
Transferred out | 11.0% | 29.2% |
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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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
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