St. Olaf named to ‘Money’ magazine’s list of best colleges
St. Olaf College was, once again, named as a “Best College” by Money magazine. In the 2026 edition, Money highlighted the high percentage of students who participate in career building opportunities and the college’s commitment to student success.
Money says, “more than 9 in 10 [students] participate in an internship, research project or community service role. The practical experience pays off: the college says 95 percent of the Class of 2025 were employed, in graduate school or doing full-time service work within seven months of graduation.”
The vocational experience mentioned by Money include a wide array of internship opportunities through the Piper Center for Vocation and Career, undergraduate research through the Collaborative Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (CURI) program, and community work through the Svoboda Center for Civic Engagement.
In addition to providing several opportunities for students to explore their vocation and gain hands-on experiences, St. Olaf is among a number of select colleges in the United States that meet the full demonstrated financial need of 100 percent of our admitted students. At St. Olaf, 87 percent of all students earn a merit scholarship, and the average first-year need-based financial aid award is $52,186. According to this year’s ranking in Money, 77 percent of recent graduates earn more by having a bachelor’s degree than if they only had a high school degree.
The undergraduate colleges included as a “Best College” in Money are measured in three categories: quality of education, affordability, and employment or earning outcomes.