McDaniel College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College

Comparable Facts

Compare McDaniel College in Westminster, MD with Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McDaniel College is larger than Gustavus Adolphus College based on total student enrollment (2,868 students vs. 1,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDaniel College is located in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting); Gustavus Adolphus College is in Saint Peter, MN (Remote Town setting).
• McDaniel College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDaniel College 13:1; Gustavus Adolphus College 12:1.

McDaniel College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDaniel College 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 McDaniel College than Gustavus Adolphus College ($24,497 vs. $26,094).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gustavus Adolphus College are 9% lower than at McDaniel College ($11,804 vs. $12,974).
• Gustavus Adolphus College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than McDaniel College (about $3,995 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $52,081.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than at McDaniel College (about $3,995 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $52,081.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at McDaniel College as at Gustavus Adolphus College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 1.8% larger than aid received by McDaniel College students ($41,450 vs. $40,721).

McDaniel College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McDaniel College 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 McDaniel College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: McDaniel College - 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 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at McDaniel College (3.64).
• McDaniel College has a higher acceptance rate (77.9%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (61%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.7% at McDaniel College vs. 15.2% at Gustavus Adolphus College.

McDaniel College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDaniel College 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 McDaniel College's (74%).
• Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than McDaniel College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $53,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gustavus Adolphus College and McDaniel College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Gustavus Adolphus College and McDaniel College 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 McDaniel College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 81%)

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.