Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Saint Peter, Minnesota
61.8% Acceptance Rate
Gustavus Adolphus College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
61.8%Acceptance Rate
3.69Avg GPA
1320Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$65,976Annual Cost
$65,607Grad Salary
21.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
61.8%
Avg GPA
3.69
Avg SAT
1320
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1280–1350
ACT Middle 50%
25–31
Need-Based Aid
21.4% receive Pell
Gustavus Adolphus College, established in 1862, is Minnesota's Swedish-heritage liberal arts college with strong sciences. The St. Peter campus includes the new Nobel Hall. Gustavus' 'Three Crowns Curriculum' emphasizes interdisciplinary learning.
Gustavus Adolphus College Acceptance Rate
At 61.8%, admission to Gustavus Adolphus College is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 61.8% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.69 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.49 – 3.68
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.24
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Gustavus Adolphus College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Gustavus Adolphus College is November 1 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 83 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: March 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: March 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Gustavus Adolphus College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Gustavus Adolphus College is 3.69. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.39 and 3.69? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.89–4.09.Gustavus Adolphus College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.69 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.49 – 3.68
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.29 – 3.48
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.28
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Essay and recommendation letters recommended but not required for first-year applicants; test-optional.
- Middle 50% ACT range for those who submit scores is roughly 25-30 composite.
- 2024-25 acceptance rate reported near 61%; fall-term deadline is March 1.
- Known for the Nobel Conference (since 1965) and January Interim term; general education curriculum has been under redesign since 2022.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Gustavus Adolphus College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Gustavus Adolphus College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Gustavus Adolphus College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Gustavus Adolphus College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Gustavus Adolphus College Without SAT or ACT?
Gustavus Adolphus College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Gustavus Adolphus College Average SAT Score: 1320
The average SAT score of admitted students at Gustavus Adolphus College is 1320 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1320 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1350 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Gustavus Adolphus College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1280, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Gustavus Adolphus College. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1320 | 1280 | 1350 |
Below 1280, you're behind most admitted students; at 1350 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1300
Can I get into Gustavus Adolphus College with a 1350 SAT?
A 1350 SAT puts you ahead of most of Gustavus Adolphus College's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Gustavus Adolphus College ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Gustavus Adolphus College is 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 27 | 24 | 29 |
| ACT English | 28 | 23 | 32 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 25 | 31 |
Can I get into Gustavus Adolphus College with a 31 ACT?
A 31 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Gustavus Adolphus College's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Gustavus Adolphus College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into Gustavus Adolphus College isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Submit the essay even though it's optional
Both Gustavus's own app and the Common App let first-years skip the essay and rec letters. Submitting a strong one anyway is one of the clearest ways to stand out in a pool where most applicants opt out.
Move fast - decisions land in about two weeks
Once your application is complete, Gustavus typically responds within roughly two weeks starting September 1. Have your transcript and any test scores ready the moment you finish the short (~22-question) application.
Reference the Nobel Conference if science genuinely interests you
Gustavus is the only institution outside Sweden and Norway authorized to use the Nobel Conference name. Genuine interest in this interdisciplinary science-and-ethics event signals real fit, not generic enthusiasm for "science."
Plan around January Interim in your narrative
Gustavus runs a January Interim term for focused single-course study, travel, or internships. Noting how you'd use it shows you understand the school's actual calendar, not just its brand.
Expert Insight:
Because the essay and recommendations are optional, some applicants treat the whole application as low-stakes and submit a bare-bones form. With test scores also optional for most students, a thin application with no essay or scores gives the committee almost nothing to evaluate - this can hurt borderline candidates more than a straightforward rejection would.
Gustavus Adolphus College Profile
Full Name
Gustavus Adolphus College
City
Saint Peter
State
Minnesota
ZIP Code
56082-1498
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Gustavus Adolphus College Degree Worth It?
Gustavus Adolphus College offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $72,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.65%.
How much does a degree from Gustavus Adolphus College Cost?
The sticker price is $65,976/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
21.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 55.5% take federal loans at Gustavus Adolphus College. File your FAFSA early and list Gustavus Adolphus College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Gustavus Adolphus College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $65,607. That's about 62% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Gustavus Adolphus College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | 1304 | 29 |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, GA | 1296 | 29 |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 1301 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Gustavus Adolphus College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 1323 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Gustavus Adolphus College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | 1367 | 32 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy, CO | 1362 | 30 |
Degree Programs at Gustavus Adolphus College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Gustavus Adolphus College run about $65,607 a year.
At about $65,976 a year, Gustavus Adolphus College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Gustavus Adolphus College's Pell Grant rate of 21.4% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 61.8%, Gustavus Adolphus College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Gustavus Adolphus College average a 3.69 GPA.
Gustavus Adolphus College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.39 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.29, Gustavus Adolphus College becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Gustavus Adolphus College — aim above 1320, ideally within the 1280–1350 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Gustavus Adolphus College is November 1 for Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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