The Princeton Review ranks St. Olaf in the Top 10 for best classroom experience, science lab facilities
Associate Professor of Philosophy Arthur Cunningham leads small groups during his philosophy class. 
St. Olaf student naturalists take some time for bird watching on Big Pond in the Natural Lands, a powerful outdoor laboratory for the sciences and environmental preservation. 
Oles tie-dye shirts at the St. Olaf Fall Block Party. 
Students work in the Neurophysiology Lab in Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.
St. Olaf College ranks in the Top 10 in three categories in the recently released 2026 edition of The Princeton Review: The Best 391 Colleges:
- Best Classroom Experience (#6)
- Best Campus Food (#6)
- Best Science Lab Facilities (#7)
St. Olaf also ranked in the Top 20 this year for:
- Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation (#12)
- Friendliest Students (#15)
- Students Study the Most (#16)
- Great Financial Aid (#20)
According to the Princeton Review, only about 15 percent of America’s nearly 2,400 four-year colleges are included in The Princeton Review guidebook.
“This year’s Princeton Review rankings are a confirmation of the daily work and commitment our faculty and staff have in curating the best educational and residential campus experience for our students,” says Associate Vice President for Enrollment Chris George ’94.
This is the first year St. Olaf has ranked in the Top 20 for Green Matters, which reflects the ongoing support by the college and students for environmental awareness and conservation efforts through a number of groups and initiatives. The college’s solar subscriptions, combined with the energy generated by its wind turbine, have enabled St. Olaf to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electrical power. The St. Olaf Natural Lands — 430 acres of restored prairie, wetlands, and woodlands adjacent to campus — are used by students, faculty, and staff for conservation, education, research and recreation.
“This year’s Princeton Review rankings are a confirmation of the daily work and commitment our faculty and staff have in curating the best educational and residential campus experience for our students.”
— Associate Vice President for Enrollment Chris George ’94
Early this summer, St. Olaf was once again listed in the Top 50 Best Value Colleges for private institutions. 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. The average first-year, need-based financial aid award is $51,900 and 79 percent of St. Olaf students receive a merit scholarship.
Princeton Review chooses colleges for the book based on its surveys of 2,000 college administrators about their institutions’ academic offerings. The company also surveyed students attending the colleges, who rated their own schools on dozens of topics and reported on their campus experiences at their institution in the book.