800 West College Avenue, St. Peter, Minnesota 56082
507-933-8000 |
www.gustavus.edu |
Financial Aid Information
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private, liberal arts college located in St. Peter, Minnesota, on a scenic hilltop overlooking the Minnesota River Valley. Gustavus, which Gustavus Adolphus Collegeis affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has the distinction of being the oldest Lutheran college in Minnesota, and is firmly rooted in its Swedish and Lutheran heritage. The College enrolls 2,550 students hailing from 40 states and 20 countries. Gustavus is a residential college with 85 percent of students living on-campus in 13 residence halls. From academics to student life, Gustavus offers a wide range of opportunities in a community that supports the success of its students. Armed with a strong foundation and understanding of the Christian faith, Gustavus graduates leave the college prepared for lives of continued learning, service, and leadership in society.
Curriculum
At Gustavus, students may choose from 75 majors in two curriculum tracks. Curriculum I offers courses in seven broad liberal arts areas. First-year students in the Curriculum I program complete a First Term Seminar, a discussion-based class that introduces new students to a liberal arts education. Curriculum II, which is limited to 60 entering students each year, provides a sequence of interrelated core classes. Gustavus advocates faith and learning, and each student is required to take a course based in the Christian tradition. The most common majors at Gustavus include biology, communication studies, management, political science, and psychology.
Class Size
The college ensures that students receive personal attention in small classes (the student-faculty ratio is 13 to 1 and the average class size 17) and have opportunities to engage in collaborative research with their professors.
Academic Year
Gustavus has a 4-1-4 calendar, meaning that students take four classes during the fall semester, one in January, and four classes during the spring semester. The January Interim Experience provides a unique opportunity for students to travel abroad, undertake an internship, or take classes not otherwise offered.
Degrees and Graduation
Nearly 80 percent of Gustavus students earn bachelor of arts degrees within 4 years, a rate that is about three times higher than the national average. After graduation, Gustavus boasts a 99 percent career placement rate, with 35 percent of the graduating class going directly to graduate or professional school. About 75 percent of Gusties will ultimately receive an advanced degree.
Safety
The Gustavus Department of Safety and Security is on duty 24 hours a day in order to provide the safest environment possible in which education may be pursued. Uniformed officers provide residence hall, academic building, and grounds security, and respond to health and safety concerns.
Student Life
Participation is a hallmark of the Gustavus experience. The College has more than 100 clubs and organizations that invite student involvement in planning and promoting events and activities. Several of the organizations are faith-based, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Gustavus Youth Outreach, and Prepare Ministries.
Service
Nurturing lives of service is a key element of the college’s mission, and more than 40 percent engage in volunteer experiences. The Community Service Center provides opportunities for students to be involved in several volunteer activities. A number of its programs, including Big Partner/Little Partner, Amigos, and Study Buddies, have received awards for the services they provide to the greater community.
Music
At Gustavus, 40 percent of the student body participate in one or more of the college’s 30 music ensembles, which include seven choirs, two concert wind orchestras, two jazz bands, two symphony orchestras, and numerous instrumental ensembles.
Athletics
Gustavus offers varsity athletic competition in 25 sports, as well as an intramural program that attracts more than 75 percent of the college’s enrollment. The college has ranked in the top 20 in 8 of the past 10 years in the NACDA Directors Cup competition, a measure of overall athletics program excellence for schools competing in Division III.
Special Features
In the tradition of excellence, Gustavus has hosted a local chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious scholastic honor society, since 1983. The college is internationally recognized for its annual Nobel Conference, an event that has brought more than 50 Nobel laureates to Gustavus since its inception in 1965 and attracts more than 5,000 people each year. Other unique events include Christmas in Christ Chapel, an annual celebration and worship service drawing approximately 6,000 people each year, and MAYDAY!, a conference held each spring focused on issues of peace and social justice.