Gustavus Adolphus College vs The College of Saint Scholastica: which has better ROI?
Gustavus Adolphus College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $91,600 in 5.3 years versus 6.3 years at The College of Saint Scholastica, on median earnings of $65,607 vs $65,934 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gustavus Adolphus College | The College of Saint Scholastica |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,900 | $27,846 |
| Total net cost | $91,600 | $111,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $65,607 | $65,934 |
| Median debt | $26,774 | $20,000 |
| Payback | 5.3 yrs | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $253,340 | $240,096 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Gustavus Adolphus College or The College of Saint Scholastica?
Gustavus Adolphus College, at $22,900 a year after aid versus $27,846 — a gap of $4,946 a year, or $19,784 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Gustavus Adolphus College or The College of Saint Scholastica graduates earn more?
The College of Saint Scholastica graduates report a median $65,934 ten years after entry, $327 more than the $65,607 at Gustavus Adolphus College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Gustavus Adolphus College or The College of Saint Scholastica?
The College of Saint Scholastica: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $26,774 at Gustavus Adolphus College, a difference of $6,774. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Gustavus Adolphus College, against 71% at The College of Saint Scholastica. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.