St. Olaf College

Northfield, MN
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Class of 2029
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Key Facts

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    Faculty & Research

    197 faculty · 352 courses · data as of 2026-07-02

    Music40 faculty · 30 courses avg h-index 8.3 #12 of 13 in Visual & Performing Arts
    Louis K Epstein, Professor of Music – Musicology; Department Chair of Music h-index 2
    Rehanna Kheshgi, Associate Professor of Music – Ethnomusicology h-index 2
    Es on community engagement through music with Somali diaspora communities in the US. Her project, “Somali Songs: Building Community through Sound,” which seeks to empower Somali youth and foster sharing of intergenerational know
    Alison J Feldt, Professor of Music – Voice; Associate Dean of Fine Arts
    Andrew Cannestra, Visiting Instructor of Music
    Courses: Introduction to Musicianship · Musicianship: Tonality · The Music Spectrum · The Art of Music · Rock Music: Style and Context · Race in 20th Century Music +24 more
    Mathematics30 faculty · 38 courses avg h-index 7.8 #19 of 23 in Mathematics
    Paul Roback, Professor of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science h-index 12
    Notable: “Data Science in Statistics Curricula: Preparing Students to “Think with Data”” (2015) · 205 citations
    Olaf Hall-Holt, Associate Professor of Computer Science h-index 9
    Computational geometry, graphics, computer vision, and elements of human cognition. Olaf has worked with students on research projects since his days as a staff researcher at the Geometry Center in Minnesota, between college (at Swa
    Notable: “Real-time 3D model acquisition” (2002) · 583 citations
    Matthew Wright, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science h-index 7
    Notable: “Interactive Visualization of 2-D Persistence Modules” (2015) · 103 citations
    Kathryn Ziegler-Graham, Professor of Statistics h-index 6
    Notable: “Forecasting the global burden of Alzheimer's disease” (2007) · 3,374 citations
    Courses: Gateways to Mathematics · Introduction to Calculus · Calculus I · Calculus II · Honors Calculus II · Topics in Mathematics +32 more
    Biology29 faculty · 31 courses avg h-index 11.4 #54 of 68 in Biology
    Norman Lee, Associate Professor of Biology; Director of Neuroscience h-index 29
    Notable: “The complete genome sequence of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori” (1997) · 3,553 citations
    Eric S Cole, Professor of Biology h-index 21
    Notable: “Germline and Somatic Transformation of Mating Tetrahymena thermophila by Particle Bombardment” (1997) · 283 citations
    Laura Listenberger, Professor of Biology and Chemistry; Department Chair of Chemistry h-index 20
    Notable: “Triglyceride accumulation protects against fatty acid-induced lipotoxicity” (2003) · 2,066 citations
    Charles Umbanhowar Jr, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies; Director of Natural Lands h-index 16
    Paleoecology, prairie community ecology, fire history of Big Woods and Great Plains and Manitoba, insect herbivory and plant-insect interactions, multivariate statistical methods, prairie and oak savanna restoration St. Olaf College 1520 S
    Notable: “Late‐glacial and Holocene climatic effects on fire and vegetation dynamics at the prairie–forest ecotone in south‐central Minnesota” (2003) · 85 citations
    Courses: Biological Science: Issues in Biology · Human Biology · The Biology of Women · Field Paleontology in Florida · Thinking and Doing Biology · Explorations in Microbiology +25 more
    Economics20 faculty · 30 courses avg h-index 5.4 #98 of 104 in Economics
    Seth Binder, Associate Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies; Frank Gery Endowed Chair in Economics h-index 9
    Economics of sustainable development; valuation and management of biodiversity and ecosystem services Publications: Refereed articles ( denotes undergraduate co-author) Gold, M., S. Binder, C. Nolte (2023) Exp
    Notable: “Nutrient enrichment, biodiversity loss, and consequent declines in ecosystem productivity” (2013) · 701 citations
    Ashley Hodgson, Associate Professor of Economics h-index 5
    Behavioral Economics, Systems Thinking, Game Theory, Health Care Economics. Publications: “Video-conferencing in a health economics course with alumni in healthcare and partners abroad” invited book chapter in Handbook on Teach
    Notable: “Jobless Recoveries and the Wait-and-See Hypothesis” (2005) · 35 citations
    Naafey Sardar, Assistant Professor of Economics h-index 4
    Macroeconomics, Energy Economics, and Applied Time Series Econometrics Academic publications: Naafey Sardar, 2026. "Rethinking productivity shocks: The role of monetary policy constraints," Macroeconomic Dynamics , 30 (e29
    Notable: “Exploring asymmetries in the effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation on U.S. food and agricultural stock prices” (2021) · 29 citations
    Marcus Bansah, Associate Professor of Economics h-index 3
    Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics, International Economics, Development Economics, Public Finance Professional Website Media: MinnPost, Private data fills the gap imperfectly as government shutdown halts key
    Notable: “Tackling the shadow economy through inflation and access to credit” (2023) · 7 citations
    Courses: Gateways to Economics: Capitalism · Principles of Economics · Topics in Economic Analysis · Game Theory in Economics · Introduction to Law and Economics · Contemporary Issues in Macroeconomics +24 more
    Chemistry18 faculty · 32 courses avg h-index 9.3 #19 of 21 in Chemistry
    Laura Listenberger, Professor of Biology and Chemistry; Department Chair of Chemistry h-index 20
    Notable: “Triglyceride accumulation protects against fatty acid-induced lipotoxicity” (2003) · 2,066 citations
    Mary Walczak, Professor of Chemistry h-index 13
    Notable: “Reductive desorption of alkanethiolate monolayers at gold: a measure of surface coverage” (1991) · 530 citations
    Douglas J Beussman, Professor of Chemistry h-index 13
    Notable: “Induction of Glutathione S-Transferases in Arabidopsis by Herbicide Safeners” (2002) · 166 citations
    Anna Brezny, Assistant Professor of Chemistry h-index 9
    Notable: “Mechanism of Catalytic O2 Reduction by Iron Tetraphenylporphyrin” (2019) · 158 citations
    Courses: Forensic Science with Lab · Introductory Chemistry · A Matter of the Environment with Lab · Structural Chemistry and Equilibrium · Energies and Rates of Chemical Reactions · Organic Chemistry I +26 more
    Psychology16 faculty · 40 courses avg h-index 8.4 #77 of 89 in Psychology
    Piercarlo Valdesolo, Assistant Professor of Psychology h-index 13
    Notable: “Emotion and Decision Making” (2014) · 2,762 citations
    Shelly Dickinson, Associate Professor of Psychology h-index 12
    Notable: “Dopamine D2 Receptor‐Deficient Mice Exhibit Decreased Dopamine Transporter Function but No Changes in Dopamine Release in Dorsal Striatum” (1999) · 232 citations
    Gary Muir, Professor of Psychology; Grace A. Whittier Endowed Chair in Science h-index 11
    The Neurobiology of Navigation I'm especially excited about exploring the intersection of brain and behavior, and my research program is guided primarily by questions about the neural mechanisms of navigation and spatial cognition
    Notable: “Disruption of the Head Direction Cell Signal after Occlusion of the Semicircular Canals in the Freely Moving Chinchilla” (2009) · 146 citations
    Grace Cho, Professor of Psychology h-index 9
    Es on the variety of sociocultural factors and parenting processes that may shape children’s emotional and self development. For example, her research team (the Development of Self and Emotions Lab ) is currently working on a pr
    Notable: “Self-Esteem as Folk Theory: A Comparison of European American and Taiwanese Mothers' Beliefs” (2002) · 204 citations
    Courses: Principles of Psychology · Menacing Minds · Psychology of Hearing · Community Applications of Psychology · Psychology of Spirituality and Religion · Research Methods in Psychology +34 more

    Faculty counts are directory headcounts; the named list may be a subset. h-index shown only for ORCID-backed or high-confidence OpenAlex matches. Partial — enrichment ongoing.

    Demographics

    Student Outcomes

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    About St. Olaf College. St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN reports an overall acceptance rate of 43.4%, an early-round acceptance rate of 58.0%, an SAT middle 50% of 1310–1460, a class size of 822, and a yield of 27.0% based on the most recent Common Data Set filings. Lutheran-affiliated college renowned for its music program (the St. Olaf Choir is world-famous). Strong STEM and study-abroad participation (one of the highest rates in the country).

    Admissions and cost data as of July 3, 2026 (CDS 2024–25 cycle), from the most recent Common Data Set, IPEDS, and College Scorecard.

    St. Olaf College: key admissions facts

    St. Olaf College's overall acceptance rate is 43.4% (the most recent Common Data Set). St. Olaf College's early-round acceptance rate is 58.0% (the most recent Common Data Set). St. Olaf College's SAT middle-50% range is 1310–1460 (the most recent Common Data Set). The average unweighted GPA of admitted students at St. Olaf College is about 3.73 (the most recent Common Data Set). St. Olaf College's yield rate (the share of admitted students who enroll) is 27.0% (the most recent Common Data Set). The average net price at St. Olaf College for families earning under $75,000 is about $15,789 per year (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data).

    Sources: Common Data Set (commondataset.org) · St. Olaf College on College Scorecard · NCES IPEDS · full source table

    How much does St. Olaf College cost for a family earning $75,000?

    A family earning under $30,000 pays about $10,567 per year in net price at St. Olaf College, while families earning over $110,000 pay about $46,567 (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data). A family earning $75,000 falls in the $48,001–$75,000 bracket and pays about $22,567 per year after grants and scholarships.

    St. Olaf College: average annual net price by household income (most recent College Scorecard/IPEDS data)
    Household incomeAverage net price per year
    Under $30,000$10,567
    $30,001–$48,000$14,234
    $48,001–$75,000$22,567
    $75,001–$110,000$34,234
    Over $110,000$46,567
    Tuition (before aid)$65,700
    Room and board$15,000

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the acceptance rate at St. Olaf College?

    St. Olaf College's overall acceptance rate is 43.4%, based on the most recent Common Data Set. Its early-round (early decision or early action) acceptance rate is 58.0%.

    What SAT score and GPA do you need for St. Olaf College?

    Admitted students at St. Olaf College typically have an SAT middle-50% range of 1310–1460 and an average unweighted GPA of about 3.73, according to the most recent Common Data Set. These are the middle of the range, so scores above them strengthen an application.

    Is it hard to get into St. Olaf College?

    Getting into St. Olaf College is difficult: it admits 43.4% of applicants. Your realistic odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to its middle-50% ranges and on your application round — you can estimate them with the free College Monte Carlo chances calculator.

    Does St. Olaf College offer early decision or early action?

    St. Olaf College offers early decision (binding) and early action (non-binding). Applying early can help: its early-round acceptance rate is 58.0%, versus 43.4% overall.

    How much does St. Olaf College cost after financial aid?

    The average net price at St. Olaf College — the real cost after grants and scholarships, not the sticker price — is about $15,789 per year for families earning under $75,000, based on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data. Higher-income families generally pay more; see the full net-price-by-income breakdown.

    How much does St. Olaf College cost for a family earning $75,000?

    A family earning under $30,000 pays about $10,567 per year in net price at St. Olaf College, while families earning over $110,000 pay about $46,567 (source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard/IPEDS data). A family earning $75,000 falls in the $48,001–$75,000 bracket and pays about $22,567 per year after grants and scholarships.

    Not sure how to read these numbers? Start with our guide on how to estimate your admission chances. St. Olaf College offers a binding early-decision round, so weigh the trade-offs in our early decision vs. regular decision guide before committing.