My sophomore is not at UR, but we also were very impressed and surprised (dreary weather, LGBTQ-phobic Uber driver there)–but the tour guide was amazing, everyone knew her, she knew a lot about everything and answered everyone’s questions, the campus was really beautiful.
There was a post months back comparing Carleton and St Olaf on the “Do not reply” thread. The author recounted being more impressed with St. Olaf’s facilities and aesthetics while feeling that Carleton was “resting on its laurels” by comparison, even asking “What does Carleton do with all that money?” Here’s an attempt to help!
They are both great (and, imo, beautiful) schools, and it is unsurprising that one or the other might appeal to a given family. Such is the nature of personal “fit,” after all. Still, I can see someone visiting both for only an hour or two wondering where Carleton invests its comparatively larger resources (more than double the endowment per student). Here are some notes that may be of interest.
Perhaps the best explanation is not something that would jump out on a tour. Per USNWR, amongst LACs Carleton ranks 2nd on faculty salary while St Olaf ranks 57th (last year Carleton ranked 1st and St Olaf 63rd.) In USNWR’s words, “Research shows there is a link between teacher’s pay and student achievement.” For some, faculty compensation is more important than campus aesthetics.
In terms of recently added or renovated facilities, it is not true that the only new addition to Carleton’s award winning science complex was the atrium. The tour guide failed the other poster in giving that impression. In fact, about 1/3 of the “Integrated Science Complex” space is new (circa 2019). That includes new classrooms, offices, and labs. Much of the rest of the complex was renovated. Also, Carleton is currently in the final year of a student housing project, after which about 10% of student housing will be new, and almost as much renovated. They’ve also just opened this fall a new (and very spacious) student health and counseling center. The performing arts center also opened in the last 15 years.
The NSF tracks research space by institution. Despite its smaller student population, Carleton has about quadruple the research space of St Olaf.
One of the biggest investments Carleton made in recent years was its geothermal system, which has also won awards. The energy facilities might not be part of an admission tour, but sustainability is important for many students. It’s considered one of the most efficient and impressive campus scale geothermal systems in the country, and students have been able to learn from and work with it. In fact, the college has prioritized the construction of a new sustainability center to facilitate interaction between sustainability staff and interested students. (As I understand it, other imminent construction projects include a new pool and a new digital humanities center.) As a side note, Carleton was also the first college in the US with a wind turbine.
I would agree there is more consistency in architectural style at St. Olaf!
Both campuses have wonderful outdoor spaces, with Carleton’s arboretum at about 840 acres (15 miles of trails) and St Olaf’s at 430 (8 miles).
There was also a comment comparing food options. I know that’s a subjective topic, but Carleton and St Olaf actually use the same catering company. Carleton’s campus ends where the town’s main dining and shopping area begins, although St Olaf is closer to local favorite The Ole Store.
I’ll stop here to avoid belaboring the point— if I haven’t already! St. Olaf is a wonderful school and there are many good reasons why it may appeal more than Carleton or any other college to a given family. But a visitor who concludes Carleton is “resting on its laurels” most likely had a tour guide or Admissions presenter experiencing an off day.
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I can’t help it but every time I hear about St. Olaf College I can’t help but think about The Golden Girls.  
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@AnonMomof2 said that when her daughter mentions it, that comes up all the time….if I remember her story correctly, moreso than Hamilton where she initially started.
Betty white visited campus in 1992 and later the choir went to visit her in CA when they were on a west coast tour.
It has been rumored that a Carleton graduate was a scriptwriter on “The Golden Girls”
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@LizHolt Love the Wisconsin publics love!
I have a kid who lives in La Crosse and loves it!!
If your kid likes Whitewater but wants a bit farther from home, look at Central Michigan. I call it a cross between Madison and Whitewater. Very big school spirit with d1 sports but in a safe walkable college town. My freshman daughter is thriving there! And no oos tuition, all suite style dorms and decent food options. Shes only paying 8k for the year.
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@2plustrio Wow! That sounds like a wonderful campus and an incredible value. I love no oos tuition! We visited Western Michigan with S24 and were very impressed with their music department and the campus as a whole. I had never thought of Central Michigan before but added it to my watch list. It sounds like a place that might be a great fit for S30. I’m glad to hear your daughter is having such a great experience there. Thnks for the tip!
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Our S26 will more than likely not go there because he wants something bigger, but Susquehanna is really a hidden gem. Going through this process with three kids, we have probably visited a dozen LACs. If you are looking at the kind of “mid to higher level” LAC like a Gettysburg, Dickinson, F & M, Muhlenberg, Lafayette, or even Bucknell, put Susquehanna on your list as a safety. We have probably toured three dozen schools, and this may be our favorite campus. It also has a great vibe; it doesn’t feel cliquey at all.
Academically, it has an excellent communications department and a good, small, real business school, which is rare for an LAC. Also, the net COA is just a little over 30K a year. Every kid who gets accepted gets at least 44K a year, and most are close to 50 K. Our son got 49.5. Susquehanna seems very well funded. They have an active and supportive alum network. The one negative from our son was that it felt a little like high school 2.0
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Agree.