Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University

Should I go to Gustavus Adolphus College or Southwest Minnesota State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Gustavus Adolphus College or Southwest Minnesota State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University comparison
Gustavus Adolphus College Southwest Minnesota State University College 3 College 4
Gustavus Adolphus College
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Overview

Gustavus Adolphus College Southwest Minnesota State University
Location Saint Peter, MN Marshall, MN
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 2,072 6,930
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gustavus.edu smsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Gustavus Adolphus College Southwest Minnesota State University
Tuition (In State) $52,490 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $52,490 $8,840
Room & Board $11,010 $9,258
Avg Net Price $30,297 $15,004
Avg Grant Aid $32,808 $7,389
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 94%

Admission

Gustavus Adolphus College Southwest Minnesota State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,781 1,558
Admitted 2,794 1,427
Acceptance Rate 73.9% 91.6%
Enrolled % 16.6% 22.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.21
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 935/1102
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025 Aug 18, 2025

Academics

Gustavus Adolphus College Southwest Minnesota State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

Gustavus Adolphus College Southwest Minnesota State University
Graduation Rate 82% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,300 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,678
Median Loan Payment $279 $224

Diversity

Gustavus Adolphus College Southwest Minnesota State University
% Men 45% 38%
% Women 55% 62%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 80%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Gustavus Adolphus College Southwest Minnesota State University
% In-State 79% 74%
% Out-of-State 15% 20%

Campus

Gustavus Adolphus College Southwest Minnesota State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than Gustavus Adolphus College based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 2,072 students)

Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gustavus Adolphus College or Southwest Minnesota State University?

  • Gustavus Adolphus College is 493.8% more expensive to attend than Southwest Minnesota State University for in-state tuition ($52,490.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 493.8% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than Southwest Minnesota State University ($52,490.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Minnesota State University than Gustavus Adolphus College ($15,004 vs. $30,297)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 18.9% lower than costs at Gustavus Adolphus College ($9,258 vs. $11,010)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Gustavus Adolphus College as Southwest Minnesota State University (94% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 344% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($32,808 vs. $7,389)

Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gustavus Adolphus College or Southwest Minnesota State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southwest Minnesota State University or Gustavus Adolphus College .

  • Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (73.9%)

Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Gustavus Adolphus College or Southwest Minnesota State University? 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 Southwest Minnesota State University and Gustavus Adolphus College.

  • The graduation rate at Gustavus Adolphus College is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (82% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn on average $15,100 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $41,200)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $5,322 lower median federal student loan debt than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates. ($21,678 vs. $27,000)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates. ($224 vs. $279)
  • More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/