Baker University (BU) vs. St Olaf College Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Baker or St Olaf College?“
Baker University (BU)
St Olaf College
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Baker University (BU) and St Olaf College. This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Baker University (BU) and St Olaf College
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Baker University (BU) and St Olaf College. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Baker University (BU) | St Olaf College | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $27,160 | $42,940 |
| Net Price | $21,249 | $23,452 |
| Average Financial Aid | $17,262 | $26,922 |
| Total Undergraduates | 1523 | 3005 |
| Average SAT Scores | 890 - 1110 | 1140 - 1410 |
| Acceptance Rate | 82 | 36 |
| Location | 618 Eighth Street | 1520 St Olaf Ave |
| City Name | Baldwin City | Northfield |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Baker University (BU) is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Baldwin City and Northfield. Baker is in a West North Central and St Olaf College is in a West North Central - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Baker University (BU) or St Olaf College Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then St Olaf College is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that St Olaf College is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Baker University (BU) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Baker Dorms Compare to housing Options at St Olaf College?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Baker charges for on-campus living, while St Olaf College charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Baker and St Olaf College student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Baker University (BU), % | St Olaf College,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 70.85000000000001 | 74.53999999999999 |
| Hispanic | 7.35 | 5.12 |
| Black | 8.6 | 2.03 |
| Foreign | 1.44 | 7.489999999999999 |
| Others | 11.8 | 10.8 |
How different is the Baker University (BU) campus compared to St Olaf College campus?
The Baker campus is located in Baldwin City, KS and is characterized as Town: Fringe (in urban cluster up to 10 miles from an urbanized area). The St Olaf College campus is located in Northfield, MN and is characterized as Town: Distant (in urban cluster more than 10 miles and up to 35 miles from an urbanized area).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Baker provides $17,262 whereas St Olaf College provides an average of $26,922.
How does Baker academics compare to St Olaf College?
When analyzing academics between Baker University (BU) and St Olaf College we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Baker | St Olaf College |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | N/A | 32 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | N/A | 19 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 14 | N/A |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 2 | 15 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | N/A | N/A |
| Education | 18 | 9 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: Baker University (BU) or St Olaf College?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Baker and St Olaf College. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Baker social life compare to St Olaf College?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Baker social life differs from St Olaf College.
Check here.
Check here.