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Basic Information

Type Private, Liberal Arts
Geographical Reach Regional
Religious Affiliation Lutheran (ELCA)
Location Saint Peter, MN
Population 120,000
Website https://www.gac.edu/
Map of the United States

Weather

Comfortable Days 100 (24%) very dry
Sunshine Hours 2,620 (53%)
Days Without Precipitation 260 (74%)

Demographics

Total Undergraduates 1,859
Men / Women 47% / 53%
From State 81%
From Region 9%
Athletes 55.3%

Racial/Ethnic

White 79%
Hispanic 6%
International 5%
Mixed 4%
Asian 2%
Black 2%
Native American 0%

Men in the Entering Class

Men
0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 44.2% 44.2% 2012 Men: 43.4% 43.4% 2013 Men: 48.5% 48.5% 2014 Men: 46.0% 46.0% 2015 Men: 46.3% 46.3% 2016 Men: 46.0% 46.0% 2017 Men: 39.3% 39.3% 2018 Men: 39.8% 39.8% 2019 Men: 40.7% 40.7% 2020 Men: 45.8% 45.8% 2021 Men: 45.6% 45.6% 2022 Men: 49.5% 49.5% 2023 Men: 46.5% 46.5% 2024 Men: 52.4% 52.4%

Entering Class by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2012 Native: 0.1% 0.1% 2013 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2014 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2015 Native: 1.0% 1.0% 2016 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2017 Native: 0.1% 0.1% 2018 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2019 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2020 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2021 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2022 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2023 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2024 Native: 0.6% 0.6% 2011 Asian: 4.1% 4.1% 2012 Asian: 4.8% 4.8% 2013 Asian: 6.6% 6.6% 2014 Asian: 5.7% 5.7% 2015 Asian: 5.9% 5.9% 2016 Asian: 5.8% 5.8% 2017 Asian: 5.1% 5.1% 2018 Asian: 2.8% 2.8% 2019 Asian: 4.1% 4.1% 2020 Asian: 4.6% 4.6% 2021 Asian: 4.6% 4.6% 2022 Asian: 5.2% 5.2% 2023 Asian: 6.5% 6.5% 2024 Asian: 7.1% 7.1% 2011 Black: 1.2% 1.2% 2012 Black: 2.3% 2.3% 2013 Black: 2.4% 2.4% 2014 Black: 1.9% 1.9% 2015 Black: 4.1% 4.1% 2016 Black: 5.6% 5.6% 2017 Black: 2.6% 2.6% 2018 Black: 2.4% 2.4% 2019 Black: 1.5% 1.5% 2020 Black: 2.0% 2.0% 2021 Black: 2.3% 2.3% 2022 Black: 4.3% 4.3% 2023 Black: 2.7% 2.7% 2024 Black: 4.3% 4.3% 2011 Hispanic: 2.6% 2.6% 2012 Hispanic: 1.8% 1.8% 2013 Hispanic: 1.1% 1.1% 2014 Hispanic: 1.6% 1.6% 2015 Hispanic: 2.9% 2.9% 2016 Hispanic: 1.4% 1.4% 2017 Hispanic: 3.6% 3.6% 2018 Hispanic: 4.6% 4.6% 2019 Hispanic: 3.3% 3.3% 2020 Hispanic: 4.7% 4.7% 2021 Hispanic: 5.9% 5.9% 2022 Hispanic: 6.5% 6.5% 2023 Hispanic: 5.3% 5.3% 2024 Hispanic: 5.7% 5.7% 2011 White: 91.1% 91.1% 2012 White: 89.2% 89.2% 2013 White: 86.0% 86.0% 2014 White: 87.8% 87.8% 2015 White: 84.1% 84.1% 2016 White: 80.3% 80.3% 2017 White: 82.8% 82.8% 2018 White: 84.8% 84.8% 2019 White: 83.9% 83.9% 2020 White: 80.8% 80.8% 2021 White: 78.4% 78.4% 2022 White: 73.8% 73.8% 2023 White: 76.7% 76.7% 2024 White: 77.3% 77.3% 2011 International: 0.8% 0.8% 2012 International: 0.7% 0.7% 2013 International: 1.4% 1.4% 2014 International: 1.5% 1.5% 2015 International: 0.8% 0.8% 2016 International: 3.8% 3.8% 2017 International: 2.5% 2.5% 2018 International: 1.9% 1.9% 2019 International: 3.3% 3.3% 2020 International: 3.8% 3.8% 2021 International: 6.1% 6.1% 2022 International: 4.6% 4.6% 2023 International: 3.4% 3.4% 2024 International: 1.7% 1.7%

Share of the full-time first-time degree-seeking cohort. Groups IPEDS reports separately — two or more races, and race unknown — are left out, so the lines don't sum to 100%.

Enrolled Undergraduates by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2020 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2021 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2022 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2023 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2024 Native: 0.1% 0.1% 2025 Native: 0.2% 0.2% 2020 Asian: 5.2% 5.2% 2021 Asian: 5.1% 5.1% 2022 Asian: 3.9% 3.9% 2023 Asian: 3.3% 3.3% 2024 Asian: 2.5% 2.5% 2025 Asian: 2.4% 2.4% 2020 Black: 3.3% 3.3% 2021 Black: 3.6% 3.6% 2022 Black: 3.4% 3.4% 2023 Black: 2.9% 2.9% 2024 Black: 2.5% 2.5% 2025 Black: 2.3% 2.3% 2020 Hispanic: 4.5% 4.5% 2021 Hispanic: 5.7% 5.7% 2022 Hispanic: 4.9% 4.9% 2023 Hispanic: 4.9% 4.9% 2024 Hispanic: 5.5% 5.5% 2025 Hispanic: 6.0% 6.0% 2020 White: 79.3% 79.3% 2021 White: 77.4% 77.4% 2022 White: 79.2% 79.2% 2023 White: 79.4% 79.4% 2024 White: 79.4% 79.4% 2025 White: 78.9% 78.9% 2020 International: 2.9% 2.9% 2021 International: 3.0% 3.0% 2022 International: 3.8% 3.8% 2023 International: 4.4% 4.4% 2024 International: 4.6% 4.6% 2025 International: 5.1% 5.1%

Share of all full-time degree-seeking undergraduates, not just the entering class. Same excluded groups as above.

IPEDS Admissions (2011–2024), Graduation Rates (2011–2024) and 12-month Enrollment (2020–2025) surveys. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Schools & Majors

⇅ Trends Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Gustavus Adolphus College 660 40% / 60% 3% $67,278 55 95%
Computer Science 30 — 83% / 17% 17% $114,172 98 95%
Chemistry 16 — 38% / 62% 6% $67,756 56 —
Geosciences 3 — 0% / 100% 0% $64,394 48 —
Mathematics 18 — 22% / 78% 0% $91,790 89 100%
Mathematics and Statistics 10 — 70% / 30% 0% $90,662 88 —
Physics 15 — 60% / 40% 0% $91,245 88 93%
Biochemistry 14 — 43% / 57% 0% $64,614 48 —
Biology 61 — 30% / 70% 2% $60,603 36 97%
Environmental Studies 29 — 31% / 69% 0% $59,957 34 100%
Kinesiology 43 — 49% / 51% 0% $60,400 36 96%
Nursing 33 — 30% / 70% 3% $78,537 77 85%
Accounting 30 — 70% / 30% 3% $92,319 89 96%
Business 54 — 67% / 33% 13% $73,560 69 95%
Economics 17 — 82% / 18% 0% $94,169 90 100%
Sports Management 5 — 80% / 20% 0% $60,400 36 96%
Classical Languages 5 — 40% / 60% 0% $62,390 42 —
Communication 26 — 38% / 62% 4% $64,768 49 98%
English 18 — 22% / 78% 6% $41,293 3 96%
French 1 — 0% / 100% 0% $62,314 41 —
Geography 8 — 25% / 75% 0% $59,772 34 —
History 14 — 21% / 79% 0% $52,843 15 92%
Interdisciplinary Studies 4 — 25% / 75% 0% $56,196 23 —
Japanese 4 — 25% / 75% 0% $62,538 42 —
Latin American and Caribbean Studies 6 — 33% / 67% 0% $54,282 18 —
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution 8 — 12% / 88% 12% $58,109 29 —
Philosophy 11 — 55% / 45% 0% $52,873 15 —
Political Science 11 — 27% / 73% 9% $64,105 47 95%
Psychology 50 — 26% / 74% 0% $63,962 46 91%
Religious Studies 2 — 50% / 50% 0% $55,108 20 —
Russian Studies — — — — $54,016 18 —
Scandinavian Studies 6 — 17% / 83% 0% $54,052 18 —
Sociology 10 — 30% / 70% 0% $52,052 14 100%
Spanish 16 — 25% / 75% 0% $63,317 44 90%
Women's Studies 3 — 0% / 100% 0% $54,763 20 —
Education 22 — 9% / 91% 0% $52,954 16 —
English Education 7 — 14% / 86% 0% $53,924 18 100%
Science Education 2 — 0% / 100% 0% $53,924 18 100%
Social Studies Education 5 — 100% / 0% 0% $53,924 18 100%
Art History 2 — 0% / 100% 0% $40,195 3 95%
Dance 5 — 20% / 80% 0% $40,526 3 —
Music 20 — 35% / 65% 0% $41,560 3 —
Music Teacher Education — — — — $53,924 18 —
Studio Art 9 — 0% / 100% 0% $40,195 3 95%
Theater 7 — 57% / 43% 0% $43,172 4 100%

Financial

Tuition & Fees $59,581
ROI Percentile 55th

Retention & Graduation

Full-Time Retention 88%
4-Year Graduation Rate 64%
6-Year Graduation Rate 77%
Transfer-Out Rate 16%

Six-Year Graduation Rate

Graduated
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Graduated: 81.7% 81.7% 2012 Graduated: 83.0% 83.0% 2013 Graduated: 82.3% 82.3% 2014 Graduated: 81.5% 81.5% 2015 Graduated: 82.0% 82.0% 2016 Graduated: 81.0% 81.0% 2017 Graduated: 79.8% 79.8% 2018 Graduated: 77.7% 77.7% 2019 Graduated: 78.0% 78.0% 2020 Graduated: 78.3% 78.3% 2021 Graduated: 78.4% 78.4% 2022 Graduated: 75.8% 75.8% 2023 Graduated: 75.9% 75.9% 2024 Graduated: 76.7% 76.7%

Students finishing within 150% of normal time. Each year labels the cohort that entered six years earlier — 2024 tracks the class that started in 2018.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Gender

Men Women
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 71.7% 71.7% 2012 Men: 81.2% 81.2% 2013 Men: 80.1% 80.1% 2014 Men: 78.9% 78.9% 2015 Men: 82.0% 82.0% 2016 Men: 79.0% 79.0% 2017 Men: 79.9% 79.9% 2018 Men: 80.1% 80.1% 2019 Men: 74.7% 74.7% 2020 Men: 75.6% 75.6% 2021 Men: 74.0% 74.0% 2022 Men: 66.9% 66.9% 2023 Men: 69.7% 69.7% 2024 Men: 73.0% 73.0% 2011 Women: 88.6% 88.6% 2012 Women: 84.3% 84.3% 2013 Women: 84.0% 84.0% 2014 Women: 83.5% 83.5% 2015 Women: 82.0% 82.0% 2016 Women: 82.8% 82.8% 2017 Women: 79.8% 79.8% 2018 Women: 75.8% 75.8% 2019 Women: 81.2% 81.2% 2020 Women: 80.6% 80.6% 2021 Women: 82.1% 82.1% 2022 Women: 83.3% 83.3% 2023 Women: 79.8% 79.8% 2024 Women: 79.1% 79.1%

IPEDS reports the cohort as men and women only.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity

Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Asian: 86.7% 86.7% 2012 Asian: 84.8% 84.8% 2013 Asian: 81.8% 81.8% 2014 Asian: 85.7% 85.7% 2015 Asian: 94.4% 94.4% 2016 Asian: 85.3% 85.3% 2017 Asian: 91.9% 91.9% 2018 Asian: 78.9% 78.9% 2019 Asian: 84.0% 84.0% 2020 Asian: 64.3% 64.3% 2021 Asian: 85.7% 85.7% 2022 Asian: 64.3% 64.3% 2023 Asian: 76.3% 76.3% 2024 Asian: 71.7% 71.7% 2011 Black: 88.9% 88.9% 2012 Black: 81.2% 81.2% 2013 Black: 81.2% 81.2% 2014 Black: 75.0% 75.0% 2015 Black: 88.0% 88.0% 2016 Black: 75.8% 75.8% 2017 Black: 73.7% 73.7% 2018 Black: 50.0% 50.0% 2019 Black: 66.7% 66.7% 2020 Black: 75.0% 75.0% 2021 Black: 28.6% 28.6% 2022 Black: 56.5% 56.5% 2023 Black: 68.8% 68.8% 2024 Black: 71.4% 71.4% 2011 Hispanic: 73.7% 73.7% 2012 Hispanic: 66.7% 66.7% 2013 Hispanic: 57.1% 57.1% 2014 Hispanic: 60.0% 60.0% 2015 Hispanic: 66.7% 66.7% 2016 Hispanic: 62.5% 62.5% 2017 Hispanic: 80.8% 80.8% 2018 Hispanic: 67.7% 67.7% 2019 Hispanic: 55.0% 55.0% 2020 Hispanic: 69.0% 69.0% 2021 Hispanic: 69.4% 69.4% 2022 Hispanic: 65.7% 65.7% 2023 Hispanic: 61.3% 61.3% 2024 Hispanic: 75.7% 75.7% 2011 White: 81.4% 81.4% 2012 White: 83.8% 83.8% 2013 White: 83.2% 83.2% 2014 White: 81.9% 81.9% 2015 White: 81.5% 81.5% 2016 White: 81.7% 81.7% 2017 White: 79.2% 79.2% 2018 White: 78.7% 78.7% 2019 White: 80.7% 80.7% 2020 White: 81.2% 81.2% 2021 White: 79.7% 79.7% 2022 White: 80.2% 80.2% 2023 White: 77.2% 77.2% 2024 White: 77.9% 77.9% 2011 International: 100.0% 100.0% 2012 International: 60.0% 60.0% 2013 International: 77.8% 77.8% 2014 International: 77.8% 77.8% 2015 International: 80.0% 80.0% 2016 International: 77.3% 77.3% 2017 International: 77.8% 77.8% 2018 International: 76.9% 76.9% 2019 International: 55.0% 55.0% 2020 International: 65.2% 65.2% 2021 International: 89.2% 89.2% 2022 International: 56.0% 56.0% 2023 International: 70.0% 70.0% 2024 International: 63.6% 63.6%

Each group's completers over its own share of the entering cohort. Groups making up less than 2% of everyone this college graduated over the period are left off — their rates swing on a handful of students and read as noise.

IPEDS Graduation Rates survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Earnings by Major Category

Each major category's degree-weighted estimated median 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average. The shaded band between +1.28 and −1.28 marks the central 80% of the national distribution (10th–90th percentile).

Academics

⇅ % Degrees Male/Female Intl Earnings ROI Employment
Humanities & Social Sciences 30.8% 203 28% / 72% 2% $58,632 30 94%
Business & Economics 16.1% 106 71% / 29% 8% $81,554 80 96%
Health Sciences 11.5% 76 41% / 59% 1% $68,275 58 91%
Life & Natural Sciences 11.4% 75 32% / 68% 1% $61,352 39 97%
Physical Sciences & Math 9.4% 62 42% / 58% 2% $83,948 83 97%
Arts 6.5% 43 28% / 72% 0% $41,353 3 97%
Education 5.5% 36 22% / 78% 0% $53,331 16 100%
Computer Science 4.5% 30 83% / 17% 17% $114,172 98 95%
Agriculture & Food Science 4.4% 29 31% / 69% 0% $59,957 34 100%

Admissions

Uses Common App Yes
Acceptance Rate 73%
Yield (Unbound) 15%
Early Decision 1 Nov 1
Early Action Nov 1
Regular Decision Jan 1

Acceptance Rates

In-State Out-of-State International
Regular Decision 63% 62% 52%

Early Action and Restrictive Early Action applicants are reported at the regular-decision rate.

Acceptance & Yield

Acceptance Yield
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Acceptance: 64.1% 64.1% 2012 Acceptance: 63.4% 63.4% 2013 Acceptance: 63.2% 63.2% 2014 Acceptance: 61.1% 61.1% 2015 Acceptance: 67.1% 67.1% 2016 Acceptance: 64.8% 64.8% 2017 Acceptance: 67.8% 67.8% 2018 Acceptance: 66.2% 66.2% 2019 Acceptance: 69.2% 69.2% 2020 Acceptance: 70.6% 70.6% 2021 Acceptance: 72.6% 72.6% 2022 Acceptance: 73.9% 73.9% 2023 Acceptance: 61.8% 61.8% 2024 Acceptance: 61.0% 61.0% 2011 Yield: 23.5% 23.5% 2012 Yield: 21.9% 21.9% 2013 Yield: 20.1% 20.1% 2014 Yield: 19.4% 19.4% 2015 Yield: 19.7% 19.7% 2016 Yield: 17.5% 17.5% 2017 Yield: 17.9% 17.9% 2018 Yield: 19.0% 19.0% 2019 Yield: 18.7% 18.7% 2020 Yield: 17.5% 17.5% 2021 Yield: 20.0% 20.0% 2022 Yield: 16.6% 16.6% 2023 Yield: 18.1% 18.1% 2024 Yield: 15.2% 15.2%

Applicants, Admitted & Enrolled

Applicants Admitted Enrolled
0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Applicants: 4,818 4,818 2012 Applicants: 4,881 4,881 2013 Applicants: 4,804 4,804 2014 Applicants: 5,199 5,199 2015 Applicants: 4,657 4,657 2016 Applicants: 4,801 4,801 2017 Applicants: 4,834 4,834 2018 Applicants: 5,168 5,168 2019 Applicants: 4,957 4,957 2020 Applicants: 4,737 4,737 2021 Applicants: 3,799 3,799 2022 Applicants: 3,781 3,781 2023 Applicants: 4,450 4,450 2024 Applicants: 5,294 5,294 2011 Admitted: 3,088 3,088 2012 Admitted: 3,096 3,096 2013 Admitted: 3,037 3,037 2014 Admitted: 3,175 3,175 2015 Admitted: 3,123 3,123 2016 Admitted: 3,111 3,111 2017 Admitted: 3,279 3,279 2018 Admitted: 3,419 3,419 2019 Admitted: 3,432 3,432 2020 Admitted: 3,345 3,345 2021 Admitted: 2,757 2,757 2022 Admitted: 2,794 2,794 2023 Admitted: 2,750 2,750 2024 Admitted: 3,229 3,229 2011 Enrolled: 727 727 2012 Enrolled: 678 678 2013 Enrolled: 610 610 2014 Enrolled: 615 615 2015 Enrolled: 614 614 2016 Enrolled: 543 543 2017 Enrolled: 588 588 2018 Enrolled: 651 651 2019 Enrolled: 642 642 2020 Enrolled: 587 587 2021 Enrolled: 551 551 2022 Enrolled: 463 463 2023 Enrolled: 499 499 2024 Enrolled: 490 490

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Standardized Tests

Test Policy optional
Submitted Test Scores 42%
SAT Range 1160 – 1370
SAT Math Range 570 – 680
SAT RW Range 590 – 690

SAT Composite

25th 75th
1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 1150 1150 2012 25th: 1140 1140 2013 25th: 1080 1080 2011 75th: 1350 1350 2012 75th: 1370 1370 2013 75th: 1340 1340

SAT Math

25th 75th
500 550 600 650 700 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 570 570 2012 25th: 570 570 2013 25th: 530 530 2011 75th: 670 670 2012 75th: 670 670 2013 75th: 660 660

SAT Reading & Writing

25th 75th
550 600 650 700 750 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 580 580 2012 25th: 570 570 2013 25th: 550 550 2011 75th: 680 680 2012 75th: 700 700 2013 75th: 680 680

Submitting a Test Score

Submitted
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Submitted: 80.0% 80.0% 2012 Submitted: 79.0% 79.0% 2013 Submitted: 76.0% 76.0% 2021 Submitted: 28.0% 28.0% 2022 Submitted: 19.0% 19.0% 2023 Submitted: 39.0% 39.0% 2024 Submitted: 42.0% 42.0%

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line. Test-score submission adds SAT and ACT submitters, capped at 100% — a student can send both.