Menlo vs. Gustavus Adolphus College

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, CA 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 Menlo based on total student enrollment (1,906 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); Gustavus Adolphus College is in Saint Peter, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; Gustavus Adolphus College 12:1.

Menlo vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo 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 Menlo ($26,094 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gustavus Adolphus College are 35.3% lower than at Menlo College ($11,804 vs. $18,236).
• Gustavus Adolphus College is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Menlo (about $2,446 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $53,630.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than at Menlo College (about $2,446 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $53,630.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College as at Gustavus Adolphus College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 5.8% larger than aid received by Menlo College students ($41,450 vs. $39,174).

Menlo vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo 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 Menlo.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Menlo - Test-free; Gustavus Adolphus College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027; Gustavus Adolphus College Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Menlo (3.3).
• Menlo has a higher acceptance rate (68.5%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (61%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 15.2% at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Menlo vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo 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 Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Menlo graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $53,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Menlo College graduates have a $5,938 lower median loan debt than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($21,062 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Menlo graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($217 vs. $279).
• More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 55%)

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.