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 64K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science.Small sample | — | $64,196 | — | 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 and Related Services. leads business & economics with 95K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services. | — | $95,200★ | — | 23 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | — | $79,260 | — | 43 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. leads health with 86K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | — | $86,114 | — | 29 |
Physics. leads sciences & mathematics with 74K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics.Small sample | — | $73,540★ | — | 14 |
| Mathematics.Small sample | — | $57,318 | — | 14 |
| Biology, General. | — | $54,202 | — | 52 |
Economics. leads social sciences & policy with 91K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics.Small sample | — | $91,252★ | — | 17 |
| Political Science and Government. | — | $62,218 | — | 30 |
| Psychology, General. | — | $53,277 | — | 66 |
| Geography and Cartography.Small sample | — | $38,289 | — | 14 |
| Sociology.Small sample | — | $33,993 | — | 14 |
Communication and Media Studies. leads communications with 69K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies. | — | $69,423 | — | 36 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. leads humanities & arts with 62K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | — | $62,016★ | — | 22 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | — | $46,987 | — | 29 |
| Philosophy.Small sample | — | $37,568 | — | 6 |
| Fine and Studio Arts.Small sample | — | $30,409 | — | 17 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.Small sample | — | $28,601 | — | 10 |
| History.Small sample | — | $28,236 | — | 17 |
| Music.Small sample | — | $26,353 | — | 6 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. leads education with 49K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | — | $48,822 | — | 25 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research. leads agriculture & environment with 50K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | — | $49,758 | — | 23 |
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. leads other & interdisciplinary with 58K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | — | $57,870★ | $31,909 | 39 |
| Area Studies.Small sample | — | $24,035 | — | 11 |
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.
