Annual Scholarships
Answers to FAQs
Many families consider themselves "middle income" ($40,000- $90,000). A family with 2 children (both parents working) and an income of $65,000 would qualify for significant aid according to current federal formulas.
$21 million is given to students in financial assistance each year
25% of Gustavus' annual budget is spent on financial assistance
Scholarship Pledge Form (PDF)
Investing in Scholarships at Gustavus
A college education is an experience and an achievement of great value. It represents a significant investment of time, energy, and resources. The greatest challenge facing Gustavus Adolphus College now and in the future is its continuing ability to recruit, retain, and graduate a strong and diverse student body in a highly competitive higher-education environment. Annual scholarship support provides access to Gustavus for all qualified students.
Why are scholarships needed?
The priority for annual scholarships at Gustavus is for middle- to low-income students. Students from middle- to low-income families may include first-generation students, under-represented students, and traditional students.
- 70% of Gustavus students have financial need.
- Financial aid provides the resources needed to continue to enroll and graduate qualified students who are interested in Gustavus.
- Additional annual scholarship gifts reduce the College’s dependence on the unrestricted budget to fund current scholarship needs.
- Gustavus is 80% tuition-driven. Annual scholarships allow for flexibility to recruit and retain students and provide for leading educational opportunities.
Where can the greatest impact be made?
Your commitment of at least $2,500 each year for four years helps provide the financial assistance a student needs to attend Gustavus.
- The greatest impact will be for middle-to-low income students.
- Students with high ability and high financial need will also benefit.
- Increasing the amount of unrestricted scholarship dollars allows Gustavus to provide merit-based scholarships to students.
What might donors receive from their gift?
- Knowledge that their annual scholarships will immediately impact a student at Gustavus and will do so for up to four years
- A scholarship bearing the name(s) of the donor(s) to be awarded to a student
- Contact with the student -- potentially the same student for four years
- Recognition in the Honors Day program booklet, printed annually
What have we accomplished already?
- Gustavus continues to be successful in raising dollars for endowed scholarships. Endowed scholarships are established at a minimum of $25,000 and provide proceeds for annual scholarships. For example, a gift of $25,000 would provide an annual scholarship of $1,200.
- To date, Gustavus has established 278 endowed scholarships for a total of $34 million.
- Our scholarship endowment of $34 million produces $1.6 million each year for financial assistance.
How can you help?
You can help give the gift of Gustavus to students by establishing an annual or endowed scholarship. To begin, just fill out the form below to have a member of the gift planning staff contact you, or call (800) 726-6192.
