Gustavus Adolphus College has been recognized by MONEY Magazine for excellence in five separate categories in its 2016-17 Best College Rankings. The College ranks in the top 30 on the magazine’s lists of Most Affordable Private Colleges, Best Colleges for Merit Aid, Best Colleges that Add the Most Value, Best Colleges You Can Actually Get Into, and Best Liberal Arts Colleges. Gustavus is also listed as 74th overall out of 705 institutions on MONEY’s Best Colleges list.
Gustavus ranks 28th on the list of the 50 Most Affordable Private Colleges, which comprises high-quality private schools that score best for affordability. Through financial aid packages or tuition prices, the total cost of a four-year education at colleges on the list is below the average for private colleges. Each of the colleges on the list also ranks in the top half of MONEY’s overall rankings.
On MONEY’s list of the 50 Best Colleges for Merit Aid, Gustavus comes in at 29th. The list highlights colleges that have merit aid budgets, average at least $6,000 in grant aid per year, and award merit aid to at least 20 percent of undergraduate students. The College’s 29th place ranking is the best in Minnesota on the merit aid list.
Gustavus ranks 28th on the magazine’s list of the 50 Best Colleges That Add the Most Value. MONEY uses what they refer to as “a comparative-value grade” to assess how each college helps students achieve better-than-expected outcomes based on their academic and economic background. The rankings take into account graduation rates, earnings, and student loan repayment data. Gustavus also ranks first in Minnesota on the added value list.
For MONEY’s list of the 50 Best Colleges You Can Actually Get Into, the magazine compiled colleges with rigorous academics that admit at least 51 percent of their applicants. Gustavus, whose incoming class generally averages a 3.7 high school grade point average and 27 composite score on the ACT, ranks 22nd.
Gustavus comes in at 23rd on the magazine’s list of the 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges. The list includes traditional liberal arts schools where students can study a variety of subjects while learning from student-focused faculty members.
Overall, the College is 74th out of the 705 colleges and universities on MONEY’s Best Colleges list. The methodology includes rankings based on quality of education, affordability, and outcomes, with each of the areas counting for one-third of the total score.
“MONEY Magazine’s rankings focus on how outstanding colleges provide affordability and a strong return on investment,” Dean of Financial Aid Doug Minter ’79 said. “We’re proud to support students from all walks of life as they seek a challenging and rewarding educational experience on the hill.”
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510