Spalding vs. Gustavus Adolphus College

Comparable Facts

Compare Spalding University in Louisville, KY 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 Spalding based on total student enrollment (1,906 students vs. 1,553 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Spalding University is located in Louisville, KY (Large City setting); Gustavus Adolphus College is in Saint Peter, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Spalding University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Spalding University 9:1; Gustavus Adolphus College 12:1.

Spalding vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spalding 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 Spalding University than Gustavus Adolphus College ($25,999 vs. $26,094).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spalding University are 17.7% lower than at Gustavus Adolphus College ($9,710 vs. $11,804).
• Gustavus Adolphus College is 92% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spalding (about $26,876 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $29,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than at Spalding University (about $26,876 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $29,200.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Spalding University as at Gustavus Adolphus College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 113.3% larger than aid received by Spalding University students ($41,450 vs. $19,429).

Spalding vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Spalding 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 Spalding.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spalding University 875/1038.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spalding University 15/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spalding - Test optional; Gustavus Adolphus College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Gustavus Adolphus College Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Spalding students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Gustavus Adolphus College (3.69).
• Spalding has a higher acceptance rate (99.4%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (61%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at Spalding vs. 15.2% at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Spalding vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spalding 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 Spalding University's (42%).
• Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than Spalding graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Spalding University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Spalding graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spalding students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 44%)

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.