Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Gustavus Adolphus College vary significantly by field of study. These rankings evaluate each program by post-graduation earnings, debt burden, and return on investment — not prestige or reputation.
Use this analysis to compare programs and understand which fields deliver the strongest outcomes.
Analyzing 24 programs with available earnings data.
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Computer Science. leads engineering & technology with 93K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science.Small sample | — | $92,637 | — | 9 |
Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. leads business & economics with 74K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping.Small sample | — | $73,508★ | — | 16 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | — | $59,351 | — | 42 |
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. leads health with 75K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. | — | $74,858 | — | 32 |
Algebra and Number Theory. leads sciences & mathematics with 78K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra and Number Theory.Small sample | — | $78,245★ | — | 5 |
| Acoustics.Small sample | — | $68,674 | — | 10 |
| Biology, General. | — | $43,639 | — | 41 |
Applied Economics. leads social sciences & policy with 63K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Economics. | — | $63,259★ | — | 24 |
| Psychology, General. | — | $53,981 | — | 47 |
| American Government and Politics (United States). | — | $52,827 | — | 27 |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography.Small sample | — | $38,289 | — | 8 |
| Applied/Public Sociology.Small sample | — | $34,413 | — | 6 |
Communication and Media Studies, Other. leads communications with 55K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | — | $54,826 | — | 35 |
American History (United States). leads humanities & arts with 48K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American History (United States).Small sample | — | $47,707★ | — | 10 |
| Applied and Professional Ethics.Small sample | — | $37,568 | — | 5 |
| Catalan Language and Literature.Small sample | — | $33,993 | — | 5 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | — | $33,993 | — | 25 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation.Small sample | — | $30,409 | — | 13 |
| Acting.Small sample | — | $28,601 | — | 7 |
| Brass Instruments.Small sample | — | $26,353 | — | 10 |
Agricultural Teacher Education. leads education with 49K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Teacher Education.Small sample | — | $49,123 | — | 12 |
Environmental Science. leads agriculture & environment with 45K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science. | — | $45,254 | — | 24 |
Exercise Science and Kinesiology. leads other & interdisciplinary with 43K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | — | $43,101★ | $31,909 | 41 |
| African Studies.Small sample | — | $24,035 | — | 9 |
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
