St Olaf College vs. Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to St Olaf College or OSU?“
St Olaf College
Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between St Olaf College and Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU). 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 St Olaf College and Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between St Olaf College and Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| St Olaf College | Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $42,940 | $10,037 |
| Net Price | $23,452 | $18,099 |
| Average Financial Aid | $26,922 | $8,481 |
| Total Undergraduates | 3005 | 44131 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1140 - 1410 | 1170 - 1390 |
| Acceptance Rate | 36 | 49 |
| Location | 1520 St Olaf Ave | 190 N. Oval Mall |
| City Name | Northfield | Columbus |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU) is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Northfield and Columbus. St Olaf College is in a West North Central and OSU is in a East North Central - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is St Olaf College or Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU) 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, Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU) 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 St Olaf College Dorms Compare to housing Options at OSU?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. St Olaf College charges for on-campus living, while OSU charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
St Olaf College and OSU student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| St Olaf College, % | OSU,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 74.53999999999999 | 71.05 |
| Hispanic | 5.12 | 3.75 |
| Black | 2.03 | 5.510000000000001 |
| Foreign | 7.489999999999999 | 7.17 |
| Others | 10.8 | 12.5 |
How different is the St Olaf College campus compared to Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU) campus?
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). The OSU campus is located in Columbus, OH and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
St Olaf College provides $26,922 whereas OSU provides an average of $8,481.
How does St Olaf College academics compare to OSU?
When analyzing academics between St Olaf College and Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU) 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 | St Olaf College | OSU |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | 449 |
| Natural resources and conservation | 32 | 183 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | 117 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 19 | 19 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | N/A | 611 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 15 | 61 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | N/A | 1697 |
| Education | 9 | 362 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: St Olaf College or Ohio State University - Main Campus (OSU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between St Olaf College and OSU. 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 St Olaf College social life compare to OSU?
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 St Olaf College social life differs from OSU.
Check here.
Check here.