St. Olaf College

Saint Olaf College
Former names
Saint Olaf’s School (1874–1889)
MottoFram! Fram! Kristmenn, Krossmenn (Nynorsk)
Motto in English
Forward! Forward! Men of Christ, Men of the Cross
TypePrivate liberal arts college
EstablishedNovember 6, 1874 (1874-11-06)
Religious affiliation
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Academic affiliations
Endowment$666.02 million (2022)
Budget$210.3 million (2020)
PresidentSusan Rundell Singer
Undergraduates3,074 (fall 2023)
Location,
U.S.

44°27′34″N 93°10′50″W / 44.45944°N 93.18056°W / 44.45944; -93.18056
CampusRural 920 acres (370 ha)
Colors    Black and gold
Nickname"Oles" /ˈlz/ OH-leez
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division IIIMIAC
MascotSt. Olaf Lion, "Ole"
Websitestolaf.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 2024, the college had 3,074 undergraduate students and 313 faculty members. The campus, including its 430-acre (170 ha) natural lands, is 2 miles (3.2 km) west of 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.