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St. Olaf ranks third nationally among liberal arts colleges for National Merit Scholars

By Amy Gage
March 9, 2005

St. Olaf College and neighboring Carleton College are among the top three liberal arts colleges in the nation for the number of National Merit Scholars in their current first-year class.

With 50 National Merit Scholars (compared with 37 a year ago), St. Olaf rose to 44th among all colleges and universities nationwide in the Freshman Merit Scholars ranking conducted annually by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The St. Olaf statistic, which has risen consistently since 1997, speaks to a growing awareness of the college among top scholars around the country, according to Associate Director of Admissions Christian Hakala.

The Class of 2008 has 787 students, with an average academic GPA of 3.65. Thirty-nine states and five countries are represented in the class. Nearly 300 received academic scholarships to St. Olaf.

Other Minnesota colleges and universities on the Chronicle list this year include the University of Minnesota, at 42nd, with 51 scholars; and Macalester College, at 51st place, with 46 scholars.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.