St Olaf College vs Gustavus Adolphus College: 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 5.6 years at St Olaf College, on median earnings of $65,607 vs $65,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Olaf College | Gustavus Adolphus College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,874 | $22,900 |
| Total net cost | $95,496 | $91,600 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $65,543 | $65,607 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,774 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 5.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $248,164 | $253,340 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, St Olaf College or Gustavus Adolphus College?
Gustavus Adolphus College, at $22,900 a year after aid versus $23,874 — a gap of $974 a year, or $3,896 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do St Olaf College or Gustavus Adolphus College graduates earn more?
Gustavus Adolphus College graduates report a median $65,607 ten years after entry, $64 more than the $65,543 at St Olaf 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, St Olaf College or Gustavus Adolphus College?
St Olaf College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,774 at Gustavus Adolphus College, a difference of $774. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at St Olaf College, against 77% at Gustavus Adolphus College. 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.