Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Gustavus Adolphus College and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, MN
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Remote Town
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 1,906
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Private 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Gustavus Adolphus College $56,076
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Gustavus Adolphus College $56,076
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • Gustavus Adolphus College $11,804
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Gustavus Adolphus College $26,094
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Gustavus Adolphus College $41,450
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 100%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Calculate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Applied
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 5,294
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 3,229
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 61%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 15.2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 3.69
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Gustavus Adolphus College A-
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Unavailable
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Test optional
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Apr 1, 2027
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 12:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
    • Biology (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 82%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Gustavus Adolphus College $56,300
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 82%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Gustavus Adolphus College $27,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Gustavus Adolphus College $279
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 47%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 53%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • Gustavus Adolphus College No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 83%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 4%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 4%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 4%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 81%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Gustavus Adolphus College 15%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Gustavus Adolphus College No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Meal Plan
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Gustavus Adolphus College No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Gustavus Adolphus College No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Learn More
  • Gustavus Adolphus College Details
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is larger than Gustavus Adolphus College based on total student enrollment (4,505 students vs. 1,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Gustavus Adolphus College is located in Saint Peter, MN (Remote Town setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Gustavus Adolphus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Gustavus Adolphus College 12:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gustavus Adolphus College or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than Gustavus Adolphus College ($22,032 vs. $26,094).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 5.1% lower than at Gustavus Adolphus College ($11,200 vs. $11,804).
  • Gustavus Adolphus College is 24.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (about $10,996 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $45,080.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.4% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (about $10,996 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $45,080.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Gustavus Adolphus College as at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 17.3% larger than aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students ($41,450 vs. $35,348).

Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gustavus Adolphus College or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Gustavus Adolphus College.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gustavus Adolphus College - Test optional; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Gustavus Adolphus College Apr 1, 2027; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (3.49).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (61%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.2% at Gustavus Adolphus College vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gustavus Adolphus College and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's (62%).
  • Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $48,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 72%)

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.