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St Olaf Augustana Minnesota State University-Mankato Saint John's University of St Thomas Luther- Norse Minnesota UW-Eau Claire Drake Macalester College Carleton College Concordia College at Moorhead| Gustavus Adolphus College | Messenger College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Messenger College | ||
| Location | Saint Peter, MN | Joplin, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,952 | 26 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | Other Protestant | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | gustavus.edu | messengercollege.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Messenger College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,570 | $9,600 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,570 | $9,600 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,290 | $12,635 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $28,805 | $18,221 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $37,193 | $7,978 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Messenger College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,450 | 14 | ||
| Admitted | 2,750 | 7 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 61.8% | 50% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.1% | 100% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.69 | 2.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2026 | Jul 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Messenger College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 8:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Messenger College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 10% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,300 | $24,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 40% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | N/A |
Diversity |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Messenger College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 19% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 35% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 54% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 8% |
Students |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Messenger College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 79% | 50% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 15% | 50% | ||
Campus |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Messenger College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Gustavus Adolphus College is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (1,952 students vs. 26 students)
Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Gustavus Adolphus College or Messenger College?
- Gustavus Adolphus College is 458% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($53,570.00 vs. $9,600.00)
- Out of state tuition is 458% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than Messenger College ($53,570.00 vs. $9,600.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messenger College than Gustavus Adolphus College ($18,221 vs. $28,805)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gustavus Adolphus College are 11.9% lower than costs at Messenger College ($11,290 vs. $12,635)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Messenger College than Gustavus Adolphus College (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 366.2% larger than aid received Messenger College ($37,193 vs. $7,978)
Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Messenger College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Gustavus Adolphus College or Messenger College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messenger College or Gustavus Adolphus College .
- Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 0.79 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Messenger College (2.9)
- Gustavus Adolphus College has a higher acceptance rate (61.8%) than Messenger College (50%)
Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Gustavus Adolphus College or Messenger College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Messenger College and Gustavus Adolphus College.
- The graduation rate at Gustavus Adolphus College is higher than Messenger College (82% vs. 10%)
- Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn on average $32,300 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $24,000)
- More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 40%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/