This page contains demographic profiles of enrolled students, retention and graduation rate data, information about high-impact practices, and results of large-scale student surveys.
Demographics of Enrolled Students
The dashboards linked below show demographics (gender, race/ethnicity/citizenship, low-income/first-generation status, federal aid status) for the most recent 10 years of new and returning full-time, degree-seeking students. They also show religious affiliations for all degree-seeking students and state/country of residence for new incoming first-years and all degree-seeking students. The Incoming Cohort Profile below the dashboards button shows a summary of similar demographic data for the 5 most recent years of incoming classes, as well as information such as number of applicants, yield rate, and average GPA/test scores.
Retention and Graduation Rates
These dashboards show the most recent 10 years of first-year, second-year, and third-year retention rates and 4-year and 6-year graduation rates for full-time students who entered St. Olaf seeking a degree for the first time. These results can be disaggregated by gender, race/ethnicity/citizenship, low-income/first-generation, and federal aid category. Below the dashboards button is a link to historical retention and graduation rates going back to 1991.
High Impact Practices (HIPs)
HIP Dashboards
These dashboards show participation in Academic Civic Engagement, learning communities, research, and study abroad/away by the time of graduation (most recent 10 years). The results can be disaggregated by gender, race/ethnicity/citizenship, low-income/first generation, and federal aid category.
Internship Database
Includes over 1400 internships submitted by graduating seniors. Each internship was highlighted as one of their top two most significant professional development experiences. (Maintained by Piper Center for Vocation & Career.)
Student Surveys
The following surveys are administered regularly to students through the IE&A office. For information about all large-scale surveys administered to students (as well as staff, faculty, and alumni) in recent years, please visit our survey database.
- National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE): This national survey examines how students spend their time in college, the nature and scope of the work they do, and their perceptions of their institution’s contribution to their learning and personal development. Administered every 2-3 years, typically to first-years and seniors.
- HEDS Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey: This survey is designed and administered by the Higher Education Data Sharing (HEDS) Consortium and asks students about their perceptions of their campus’s climate for unwanted sexual contact and sexual assault; their perceptions of how their institution responds to reports of sexual assault; and whether and how often they have experienced unwanted sexual contact or sexual assault. Administered every 3 years to all students. The results of this survey are hosted on the St. Olaf Title IX website.
We will soon be posting results from the HEDS Sense of Community Survey that went to all students, staff, and faculty in Spring 2025.