St. Olaf College
Former names | Saint Olaf’s School (1874–1889) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Fram! Fram! Kristmenn, Krossmenn (Nynorsk) |
Motto in English | Forward! Forward! Men of Christ, Men of the Cross |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Established | November 6, 1874 |
Religious affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
Academic affiliations | |
| Endowment | $881.6 million (2025) |
| President | Susan Rundell Singer |
| Undergraduates | 3,124 (fall 2024) |
| Location | , U.S. 44°27′34″N 93°10′50″W / 44.45944°N 93.18056°W |
| Campus | Rural 920 acres (370 ha) |
| Colors | Black and gold |
| Nickname | "Oles" /ˈoʊliːz/ OH-leez |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division III – MIAC |
| Mascot | St. Olaf Lion, "Ole" |
| Website | stolaf.edu |
St. Olaf College is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American pastors and farmers led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after the King and the Patron Saint Olaf II of Norway and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
As of 2025, the college had 3,124 undergraduate students and 326 full and part-time faculty members. The campus, including its adjacent 430-acre (170 ha) natural lands, is west of downtown Northfield, Minnesota. Northfield is also the home of its neighbor and friendly rival, Carleton College. Between 1995 and 2020, 154 St. Olaf graduates were named Fulbright Scholars and 35 received Goldwater Scholarships.