Why Gustavus?Admission

There are a lot of factors that contribute to your college decision. Academic quality, residential life, financial aid... even the food can help you make up your mind! We hope that you visit a lot of colleges—both big and small—before you decide which one to call home for the next four years.

So, why Gustavus? We're known for our strength academically. We think that's the most important feature of a college. After all, you're going to college to get an education. There are a lot of ways to measure academic quality: faculty credentials, curriculum options, class size, graduation data, and more.

But college is also a collection of experiences—both inside and outside the classroom. Whether you're interested in arts or athletics, social justice or music, theatre or intramurals, we hope you look at the entire college to see if Gustavus is the right fit for you. When it comes down to it, your college decision is about just that; finding the right fit.

Think carefully about what features you're looking for in a college. Remember, we're here to help you along the way. And when the time comes for you to make your decision, we hope you decide to be a Gustie!

Student Profile

We're known as "Gusties," after our namesake, Gustav II Adolph. Hailing from across the country and around the world, Gusties make their lives count in many ways. There are lots of numbers and statistics to compare when researching colleges; here are some that we think are important.

Enrollment
Undergraduate 2,100
Full-time 99%
Living On Campus 90%
Female Students 56%
Male Students 44%
In-State Residents 83%
Out-Of-State Residents 13%
International Students 4%
Varsity Intercollegiate athletics participation 25%
Students Receiving Need-based Financial Assistance 71%
States Represented 40
Countries Represented 23
Students of Color 16%
Average Class Size 17
Double Majors 25%
Intramural and club sports participation 80%
Volunteering/service activities 55%
First–Year Class 2022
Size 463
Students in Top 10% of Their High School Class 27%
Average GPA 3.67
SAT
Average Combined Verbal & Math 1300
ACT Ranges (middle 50%): 24-30
Average Composite 28
Post Graduation Data
Most recent graduates who:
Went directly to graduate or professional school 33%
Early Career Salary (0-5 years) $49,300
Average Salary (all graduates) $62,000
Mid-Career Average Salary (10+ years) $96,000
Alumni Network 26,000+