Gustavus Adolphus College vs Saint Ambrose University

Gustavus Adolphus College and Saint Ambrose University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Gustavus, a private liberal arts college, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a higher graduation rate compared to Saint Ambrose, a private Catholic university. While Saint Ambrose offers a wider range of undergraduate programs, Gustavus excels in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Saint Ambrose's student body is more diverse, with a larger international student population. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two excellent institutions. Explore the table to discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Gustavus Adolphus College logo

Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Ambrose University logo

Saint Ambrose University

Overview

Location Saint Peter, Minnesota Davenport, Iowa
Campus setting Town: Fringe City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system 4-1-4 Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 84.0% 75.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Evangelical Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 72.6% 72.4%
Application fees
SAT range N/A 1030 - 1190
ACT range 26 - 31 20 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 21.0%
Students submitting ACT score 28.0% 34.0%
Total number of applicants 3,799 4,005
Total number of admissions given out 2,757 2,900
Admitted students who chose to enroll 551 493
Yield rate 20.0% 17.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $63,270 $51,924
Average net price $27,657 $24,844
Tuition $49,950 $33,290
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,750

Meal plan: $3,950
Room/dormitory: $7,196

Meal plan: $4,442
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $33,174
100.0%
Average amount $22,790
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $6,197
70.0%
Average amount $5,278
Students taking out private loans 17.0%
Average amount $14,100
18.0%
Average amount $14,015

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,251
Men 43.6% Women 56.4%
2,228
Men 45.3% Women 54.7%
Graduate students N/A 685
Men 27.7% Women 72.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 19.2% 63.9%
International students 3.6% 2.0%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 2,125 1,688
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Minnesota Wisconsin South Dakota Texas Illinois Illinois Iowa California Missouri Indiana

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 78.4% 64.4%
Dropout rate 9.3% 15.9%
Transferred out 12.3% 19.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $64,196
  • Year 3: $72,945
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,715
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $68,688
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,092
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $66,456
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,254
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $60,313
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,068
  • Year 2: $48,302
  • Year 3: $52,394
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,694
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $48,449
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,021
  • Year 2: $42,166
  • Year 3: $45,271
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,866
  • Year 2: $38,829
  • Year 3: $42,958
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,044
  • Year 2: $35,179
  • Year 3: $41,058
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,638
  • Year 2: $36,745
  • Year 3: $39,885
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,289
  • Year 2: $78,657
  • Year 3: $82,825
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,136
  • Year 2: $66,287
  • Year 3: $68,203
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,519
  • Year 2: $49,019
  • Year 3: $66,569
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,077
  • Year 2: $59,377
  • Year 3: $61,530
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,766
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $54,838
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,000
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $54,578
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,715
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $54,557
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,428
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $53,324
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,216
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $52,751
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,037
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: $52,398

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