Gustavus Adolphus College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Gustavus Adolphus College charges a net price of $22,900/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $91,600. Graduates earn a median $65,607 ten years after entry, $17,247/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.3 years — a 20-year net return of $253,340, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Gustavus Adolphus College's 5.3-year payback ranks #453 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 65% of them, and #10 of 68 in Minnesota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $22,900/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $91,600 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $65,607 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $17,247/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,774 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 5.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $253,340 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Gustavus Adolphus College's own numbers. Net price $22,900 × 4 years = $91,600 total. Median earnings $65,607 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $17,247 a year of premium. $91,600 ÷ $17,247 = 5.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $253,340. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Gustavus Adolphus College students graduate with?
A median $26,774 in federal loans among completers, or 41% of the $65,607 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Gustavus Adolphus College students graduate?
77% finish their degree. Spread the $91,600 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $118,961 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Gustavus Adolphus College expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $22,900 net price runs $6,080 above the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, or $24,318 more across the full degree.