Quad

Head-to-head

U. the South
Gustavus Adolphus

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Gustavus Adolphus costs about $9.2K less per year on average than U. the South ($26,230 vs. $35,395, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  2. 2

    Gustavus Adolphus's grants cover 61% of its full price on average, vs. 51% at U. the South

    Aid generosity
  3. 3

    Gustavus Adolphus is more diverse (index 0.37 vs. 0.31)

    Diversity index
  4. 4

    Gustavus Adolphus has 5 pts more Pell recipients than U. the South (21% vs. 16%)

    Pell Grant recipients
  5. 5

    U. the South graduates 4 pts more of its students than Gustavus Adolphus (81% vs. 77%)

    Graduation rate
  6. 6

    U. the South's yield is 2 pts higher than Gustavus Adolphus's

    Yield rate

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

U. the South admits 56%, Gustavus Adolphus 61%; U. the South's yield is higher, at 18%.

Acceptance rate
U. the South56%
Gustavus Adolphus61%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. the SouthSelective
  • Gustavus AdolphusSelective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1100–1600
U. the South
1210–1360
Gustavus AdolphusNot reported
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. the SouthRigor and GPA very important
  • Gustavus AdolphusRigor and GPA very important52%

Who's on each campus

Gustavus Adolphus is a bit larger than U. the South (1,878 vs. 1,607 undergrads) and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. the South1.6K
Gustavus Adolphus1.9K
Pell Grant share
U. the South16%
Gustavus Adolphus21%

Majors and faculty

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics leads at U. the South, and Biology/Biological Sciences at Gustavus Adolphus.

Students per faculty member
U. the South9 to 1
Gustavus Adolphus12 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. the SouthEconometrics and Quantitative Economics15%
  • Gustavus AdolphusBiology/Biological Sciences, General9%

What each costs

Gustavus Adolphus costs about $9.2K less a year than U. the South on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
U. the South$35.4K
Gustavus Adolphus$26.2K
Aid generosity
U. the South51%
Gustavus Adolphus61%

What each pays off

Gustavus Adolphus's former students earn more, a median $65.6K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 70% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
U. the South$64.9K
Gustavus Adolphus$65.6K
Graduation rate
U. the South81%
Gustavus Adolphus77%

How each has changed

Applications grew at U. the South but held steady at Gustavus Adolphus; U. the South got more selective while Gustavus Adolphus held steady.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. the SouthGrowing+58%
  • Gustavus AdolphusSteady+2%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:The University of the South (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2019;Gustavus Adolphus College Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2022;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why