Quad

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Biology/Biological Sciences, General (9% of graduates). 12 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 59% of colleges. 93% of faculty are full-time. Spends $18,862 a year on instruction per student.

Most popular majors

660 bachelor's degrees, 2024–25 graduates

The top 5 programs account for 37% of graduates; 42 programs in 19 fields awarded at least one.

  1. Biology/Biological Sciences, General 26.01019.2% 61
    Graduates in this field earn $54,202 4 years out
  2. Business/Commerce, General 52.01018.2% 54
    Graduates in this field earn $79,260 4 years out
  3. Psychology, General 42.01017.6% 50
    Graduates in this field earn $53,277 4 years out
  4. Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other 31.05996.5% 43
    Graduates in this field earn $57,870 4 years out
  5. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 51.38015.0% 33
    Graduates in this field earn $86,114 4 years out

Fastest-growing field: Computer science, 1.2% → 4.5% of graduates since 2014–15 (30 graduates in 2024–25).

Source:IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2014–15 to 2024–25About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Bachelor's degrees awarded July through June, by federal program name (), which can differ from what the college calls a major. A double major counts once, under the ; its other field is a . Earnings are College Scorecard's median for graduates of the program's broader field (), 4 years after completion; see Top-earning majors below.

Top-earning majors here

By earnings 4 years after completion

  1. Accounting and Related Services$95,200 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $64,094

    4 years after completion$95,200
    National median: $76,194Above typical

    Median federal debt: $26,500 · 51 graduates, two most recent years combined

  2. Economics$91,252 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $52,439

    4 years after completion$91,252
    National median: $82,686Above typical

    4 years out, Pell: Too few graduates to report · Non-Pell: $62,741(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)

    Median federal debt: $23,250 · 48 graduates, two most recent years combined

  3. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$86,114 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $71,294

    4 years after completion$86,114
    National median: $88,910About typical

    4 years out, Pell: Too few graduates to report · Non-Pell: $75,461(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)

    Median federal debt: $27,000 · 61 graduates, two most recent years combined

  4. Business/Commerce, General$79,260 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $49,881

    4 years after completion$79,260
    National median: $68,407Above typical

    4 years out, Pell: $65,844 · Non-Pell: $56,381(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)

    Median federal debt: $25,500 · 89 graduates, two most recent years combined

  5. Physics$73,540 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: Too few graduates to report

    4 years after completion$73,540
    National median: $76,786Below typical

    Median federal debt: $26,000 · 23 graduates, two most recent years combined

Bachelor's programs only, among graduates who received federal financial aid and were working (not enrolled in school) in the measurement year.

Students per faculty member vs. every college12 to 1
12 to 1
← Fewer students per facultyfewer students per faculty member than 59% of 1,892More students per faculty →

The college also reports 11 to 1 in its Common Data Set (2,042 students, 188 faculty).

Not the average class size: faculty also teach graduate students and do research, and large lectures can sit alongside small seminars.

Programs & curriculum

  • Distance learning
  • Double major
  • Dual enrollment
  • Domestic exchange program
  • Honors program
  • Independent study
  • Internships
  • Liberal arts/career combination
  • Student-designed major
  • Teacher certification
  • Study abroad
  • Undergraduate research

Requires coursework in arts, English composition, a foreign language, physical education, humanities, math, a natural science, and social science.

Full-time faculty93%
National median: 67%Above typical
Average faculty salary

$75,157

9-month equated, all ranks combined. Pay tracks local cost of living as much as a college's generosity.

Spending and endowment

Fiscal 2023–24. Compared only against other private nonprofit colleges: public and private colleges report finances on different accounting forms that aren't comparable.

Instruction spending per student$18,862
$18,862
← Lessmore than 83% of 1,199More →
Endowment per student$150,880
$150,880
← Lessmore than 84% of 1,065More →

Sources:IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard Field of Study data, most recent release;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks), Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures, 2023–24;Gustavus Adolphus College Common Data Set 2022–23, Fall 2022;Gustavus Adolphus College Common Data Set 2022–23, 2022–23;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)