Gustavus Adolphus College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Saint Peter, Minnesota. It enrolls 1,878 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes83
Value57
Affordability28
Selectivity77
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 61%, Gustavus Adolphus College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
61%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Gustavus Adolphus College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
7.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Gustavus Adolphus College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,900 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,900
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
54%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$56,076
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,804
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,804
Books & Supplies
$900
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,180
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,180
Total Cost of Attendance
$67,613
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,015
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,783
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,875
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,015
Over $110,000
$29,674
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,70010%percentile
$14,00025%percentile
$26,774Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $24,390
↓ $2,384
No Pell $21,500
↓ $5,274
Female students $23,250
↓ $3,524
Male students $20,500
↓ $6,274
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($26,774), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
75% of full-time students who enrolled at Gustavus Adolphus College graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
75%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of $65,607 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$65,607
Earning > $25K
90%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$53,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$57,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$60,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,900, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Gustavus Adolphus College is home to 1,878 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,878
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
15%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 79.0%1,483
Hispanic 6.2%116
International 5.0%94
Other 4.5%85
Asian 2.4%45
Black 2.2%42
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Gustavus Adolphus College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeSaint Peter, Minnesota
Housing
Strongly residential2,125 beds for 1,878 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Gustavus Adolphus College offers
a varied set of programs:
36 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gustavus Adolphus College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$451M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,570
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
174 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
51
29%
$86,078
Associate Professors
59
34%
$73,148
Assistant Professors
53
30%
$61,413
Instructors
11
6%
$59,591
Pros & Cons of Gustavus Adolphus College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Gustavus Adolphus College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Gustavus Adolphus College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gustavus Adolphus College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Gustavus Adolphus College.
Is Gustavus Adolphus College hard to get into?
Admissions at Gustavus Adolphus College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 61%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Gustavus Adolphus College?
Gustavus Adolphus College has an acceptance rate of 61%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Gustavus Adolphus College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Gustavus Adolphus College scored between 24 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Gustavus Adolphus College cost?
The average net price after aid at Gustavus Adolphus College is $22,900 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gustavus Adolphus College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $65,607 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,900 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gustavus Adolphus College known for?
Gustavus Adolphus College is best known for its programs in Psychology, Biology, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Gustavus Adolphus College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Gustavus Adolphus College are $65,607, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Gustavus Adolphus College accredited?
Yes. Gustavus Adolphus College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Gustavus Adolphus College?
Gustavus Adolphus College enrolls 1,878 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Gustavus Adolphus College?
Gustavus Adolphus College graduates 75% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Gustavus Adolphus College a public or private college?
Gustavus Adolphus College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Gustavus Adolphus College located?
Gustavus Adolphus College is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota.
What programs does Gustavus Adolphus College offer?
Gustavus Adolphus College offers 36 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Biology, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gustavus Adolphus College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gustavus Adolphus College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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