Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private · Town (fringe) · GAC

Private institution in Saint Peter, MN · 1,930 undergraduates · 62% acceptance rate · $65,607 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 14%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 14%Median ACT
Top 17%Average SAT
Top 19%Median earnings, 10 years after entry

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $26,8951,591st cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $54,3101,878th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $54,3101,876th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $65,9761,786th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $26,7741,563rd lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $65,607366th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $51,546467th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 75.8%276th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 84.2%470th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 61.8%436th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 1320170th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 29132nd highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 1,930959th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 11.0:1619th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 21.4%1,647th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 54 mi (MSP)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Minnesota#8

Applying

EANov 1
Rollingopen

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Optional / not required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 38 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$64,328	$63,005
Computer Science	bachelors	$64,196	$64,196
MathematicsMathematics & Statistics	bachelors	$60,094	$57,318
Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$58,479	$57,995
EconomicsSocial Sciences	bachelors	$50,105	$52,107
Business/Commerce, GeneralBusiness	bachelors	$46,999	$48,302
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasEducation	bachelors	$44,170	$42,166
Political Science and GovernmentSocial Sciences	bachelors	$43,798	$36,745
Communication and Media StudiesCommunications	bachelors	$41,193	$39,369
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation	bachelors	$40,792	$38,829
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsForeign Languages	bachelors	$39,648	$33,993
SociologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$39,592	$33,993

Campus facts

Religious affiliation: Evangelical Lutheran Churchsource
Founded in 1862source
Athletic nickname: "Golden Gusties"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
School colors: Black and Goldsource
Mascot: Gus the Lionsource
Motto: "E Caelo Nobis Vires"source
Formerly known as "Minnesota Elementarskola" (1862–1865)source
Formerly known as "St. Ansgar's Academy"source
Formerly known as "(1865–1873)"source
Formerly known as "Gustavus Adolphus Literary & Theological Institute"source
Formerly known as "(1873–1876)"source
Athletic conference: MIACsource
Fight song: ""Gustie Rouser""source
Notable alum: Steve Zahnsource
Notable alum: Peter Krausesource

Athletics — 12 sports

NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.