CCS vs. Gustavus Adolphus College

Comparable Facts

Compare College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI 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 CCS based on total student enrollment (1,906 students vs. 1,433 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College for Creative Studies is located in Detroit, MI (Large City setting); Gustavus Adolphus College is in Saint Peter, MN (Remote Town setting).
• College for Creative Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College for Creative Studies 10:1; Gustavus Adolphus College 12:1.

CCS vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCS 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 CCS ($26,094 vs. $36,055).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gustavus Adolphus College are 22.7% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($11,804 vs. $15,272).
• Gustavus Adolphus College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CCS (about $2,726 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $53,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than at College for Creative Studies (about $2,726 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $53,350.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gustavus Adolphus College than at College for Creative Studies (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 37.7% larger than aid received by College for Creative Studies students ($41,450 vs. $30,108).

CCS vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCS 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 CCS.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCS - 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 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at CCS (3.19).
• CCS has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (61%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.9% at CCS vs. 15.2% at Gustavus Adolphus College.

CCS vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCS 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 College for Creative Studies's (57%).
• Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than CCS graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gustavus Adolphus College and CCS graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Gustavus Adolphus College and CCS graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCS students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 60%)

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.