Acceptance Rate
61%
“A Swedish-rooted liberal arts college in small-town Minnesota where collaborative Gusties build lifelong bonds amid blizzards and arboretum trails.”
Saint Peter, MN
Location
Town
Campus Setting
Gustavus Adolphus College traces its roots to 1862, when Swedish Lutheran immigrants founded it as a seminary and college during the Civil War, naming it after King Gustavus Adolphus, the 17th-century Swedish monarch famed for his military prowess in Europe's Thirty Years' War. You'll find a campus that embodies Midwestern Lutheran values—service, humility, community—on 340 rolling acres in St. Peter, a fringe town of 11,000 nestled along the Minnesota River, 90 minutes from the Twin Cities. Students who thrive here are earnest collaborators who embrace close-knit living, crave personalized attention, and don't mind bundling up for outdoor adventures; extroverted types seeking urban buzz or cutthroat competition might feel isolated in this wholesome bubble, especially during the long, snowy winters that test even the heartiest Minnesotan.
Photo Gallery
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Gustavus's classrooms, expect intimate seminars where professors cold-call everyone and push you to refine arguments through rigorous writing—average class sizes hover around 15, backed by that stellar 11:1 student-faculty ratio that means your bio prof knows your research quirks. Standouts include nursing and health sciences, where hands-on clinicals start early; the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship fosters startups; and the music and theater departments stage professional-caliber productions in the flexible Schaeffer SceneShop. Undergrads snag real research gigs, like sequencing genomes or studying climate impacts in the 130-acre Linnaeus Arboretum, though you'll trade Ivy-level funding for a more teaching-focused vibe without massive labs. The annual Nobel Conference brings laureates to debate big ideas, sparking your curiosity but reminding you this isn't a research powerhouse.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,905 undergrad • 1 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
79%
Black / African American
2%
Hispanic / Latino
5%
Asian
2%
Other / Multi-racial
10%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Saint Peter, MN
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
You'll live in first-year clusters or themed houses where 90% of undergrads bunk together, fostering instant friendships over late-night study sessions or ultimate frisbee on the quad. No Greek life dominates; instead, 200+ clubs—from ultimate frisbee leagues to the Feminist Collective—plus DIII MIAC athletics (hockey and wrestling draw feverish crowds) fill your week with pep fests, service trips, and coffeehouse jams. Traditions like the massive Christmas in Christ Chapel concert, packing 1,500 into a soaring dome for candlelit hymns, cement the spirited, faith-infused vibe. A typical week mixes Monday labs, Wednesday intramurals, Friday bonfires, and spontaneous worship gatherings, but brace for cabin fever in subzero temps—the nearest bar or concert is a 20-minute drive to Mankato, and the rural pace suits introverts better than party animals.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
No
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$15,582
$30K – $48K
$15,904
$48K – $75K
$17,040
$75K – $110K
$18,402
$110K+
$20,055
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
88%
4 Years Graduation Rate
75%
6 Years Graduation Rate
81%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$65,607
88% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Gustavus Adolphus College and return in the fall. 75% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 81% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
75%
4-6 years
6%
Non-grad
19%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$52,490
Acceptance
61%
Undergrads
1,905
4-Year Grad Rate
75%
Endowment
$273M
Saint Peter, MN 56082-1498