California College of the Arts vs. Gustavus Adolphus College

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gustavus Adolphus College is larger than California College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (1,906 students vs. 1,308 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Gustavus Adolphus College is in Saint Peter, MN (Remote Town setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Gustavus Adolphus College 12:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or Gustavus Adolphus College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gustavus Adolphus College than California College of the Arts ($26,094 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gustavus Adolphus College are 46.6% lower than at California College of the Arts ($11,804 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gustavus Adolphus College (about $4,150 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $56,076.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at California College of the Arts than at Gustavus Adolphus College (about $4,150 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $56,076.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gustavus Adolphus College than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 25.8% larger than aid received by California College of the Arts students ($41,450 vs. $32,953).

California College of the Arts vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or Gustavus Adolphus College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Gustavus Adolphus College and California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Gustavus Adolphus College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Gustavus Adolphus College Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at California College of the Arts (3.34).
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (61%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 15.2% at Gustavus Adolphus College.

California College of the Arts vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and Gustavus Adolphus College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Gustavus Adolphus College's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gustavus Adolphus College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Gustavus Adolphus College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($279 vs. $289).
• More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.