Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Gustavus Adolphus College at a Glance
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans led by Eric Norelius and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It was named for Gustavus Adolphus, the King of Sweden from 1611 to 1632. Its residential campus includes a 125-acre arboretum.
1862
164 years old
$329M
$328.7 million (2025)
2,100
170
340 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Gustavus Adolphus College
Official admissions pageDecember 1 (Early Action)
$25
Testing policy
Is Gustavus Adolphus College Worth It?
Gustavus Adolphus College offers moderate value at $22,900/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $65,607, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 76% graduation rate means roughly 24% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Gustavus Adolphus College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #5 of 71 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wofford College | 76 | $18,732 | $68,964 |
| #2 | Centre College | 66 | $20,781 | $66,240 |
| #3 | DePauw University | 61 | $22,264 | $70,527 |
| #4 | Fresno Pacific University | 57 | $13,630 | $58,896 |
| #5 | Gustavus Adolphus College | 55 | $22,900 | $65,607 |
| #6 | North Park University | 50 | $16,948 | $59,572 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Gustavus Adolphus College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Gustavus Adolphus College
The highest-earning program at Gustavus Adolphus College is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $59,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is History at $21,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from Gustavus Adolphus College earns $59,600, while a History graduate earns $21,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $26,687 for History.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $22,900/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $59,600 | $59,600 | $27,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $56,100 | $56,100 | $26,500 |
| Economics | $47,500 | $47,500 | $23,250 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $44,900 | $44,900 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $39,600 | $39,600 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $37,100 | $37,100 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $36,600 | $36,600 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $35,700 | $35,700 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $32,500 | $32,500 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | $32,400 | $32,400 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $31,800 | $31,800 | $27,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $31,000 | $31,000 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General | $26,300 | $26,300 | $27,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $24,000 | $24,000 | $25,250 |
| History | $21,900 | $21,900 | $26,687 |
Similar Colleges in MN
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Saint Peter, MN
- Student Body
- 1,878 students
- Admission Rate
- 61%
- Graduation Rate
- 76%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,900
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $65,607
- Median Student Debt
- $26,774