Economics at Gustavus Adolphus College

Gustavus Adolphus's economics program sits in an awkward middle ground for Minnesota students. While graduates earn slightly above the national median at $52,439 in their first year, they trail the state median by roughly $4,000—landing in just the 40th percentile among Minnesota economics programs. That gap matters because families paying for a Minnesota liberal arts education can find meaningfully stronger outcomes at nearby competitors like St. Thomas or the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus, both of which deliver $56,000+ starting salaries.

The debt picture is manageable at $24,474, creating a reasonable 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates can handle. Earnings growth to $63,259 by year four shows the degree maintains value over time. However, with an admission rate above 60% and strong SAT scores, Gustavus attracts capable students who might expect their economics degree to perform more competitively within the state.

For families weighing in-state options, this program delivers solid but not exceptional outcomes. If your student has the credentials for Gustavus (1320 SAT), they likely qualify for the stronger-performing programs just up the road. The moderate debt burden means this isn't a financial disaster, but Minnesota families have better economics programs available at similar or lower cost.