Gustavus Adolphus College

Small class sizes and a low student-to-faculty ratio mean Gustavus students don’t slip through the cracks. They form real relationships with their professors, relationships that often extend well beyond graduation. The vast majority of Gustavus faculty are tenure-track, meaning students learn from educators who are fully invested in the life of the institution and in the success of each student they teach.

Faculty go beyond content delivery. They mentor, advocate, and open doors, connecting students with internships, research opportunities, and professional networks. The college’s Writing Across the Curriculum program ensures that strong communication skills are woven into every academic discipline rather than siloed into a single required course. The result is a graduate who can think critically and communicate clearly, regardless of field.

Step onto the Gustavus campus and you’ll notice something almost immediately: people actually stop and say hello. Students describe the atmosphere as genuinely warm, a place where belonging is built into the culture rather than bolted on as an afterthought. It’s the kind of community where friendly faces are everywhere across the quad, and where the connections formed in a first-year seminar have a way of lasting decades.

Campus life here runs deep. Gustie traditions like traying down the hill from Old Main in winter and spontaneous Gustie Rousers breaking out across campus give students a shared language and a sense of identity that sticks long after graduation. The Campus Activities Board keeps the calendar full, funding guest speakers, concerts, and themed campus-wide celebrations that give students with every kind of interest a reason to show up. Whether a student finds their people through varsity athletics, a musical ensemble, a club, or Greek life, the common thread is the same: at Gustavus, there’s always somewhere to belong.

A Gustavus education is designed with the long view in mind. From a student’s first day on campus, dedicated academic advisers work alongside them to map a path that aligns their interests, strengths, and ambitions.

The SigX program is central to that preparation, ensuring every student graduates with hands-on, real-world experience that translates directly into the workplace or graduate study. Faculty play an active role in this pipeline as well, connecting students with internships, research opportunities, and professional contacts drawn from a loyal and engaged alumni network. Graduates of Gustavus return reliably to mentor the students who follow them, creating a cycle of support that extends well beyond the campus gates.

Career development at Gustavus isn’t a last-minute scramble. It’s woven into the academic experience from the start, so that when students walk across the stage at commencement, they do so with more than a diploma. They leave with clarity, connections, and the confidence to make a meaningful difference in whatever field they choose.

Admission

TEST SCORES
Optional

FRESHMAN PROFILE
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 24 | 75th Percentile: 30
ACT Math
25th Percentile: 22 | 75th Percentile: 29
ACT English
25th Percentile: 22 | 75th Percentile: 30

Tuition & Cost

Tuition: $53,570
Fees: $740
Room: $7,050
Board: $5,954