Business at Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Commerce, General
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
57
Optimistic
56
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,881/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #195 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $619K $609K $549K
Earnings Multiple 2.9x 2.8x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 56 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$217,240
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,580
50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,500
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,776
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $49,881 track close to the $48,211 national median for Business programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The financial case is thin at 2.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Business's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $49,881 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #195 of 242 Business programs, Gustavus Adolphus College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $49,881 to $69,776 over five years — a 40% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Gustavus Adolphus College

With a 62% acceptance rate, Gustavus Adolphus College is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 1,930 students in Saint Peter, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $107,580 — 50% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Gustavus Adolphus College →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Sales managers $138,060/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
View all 16 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business at Other Schools

Other Majors at Gustavus Adolphus College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business at Gustavus Adolphus College?
This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Business careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $549,328 in decade earnings vs $619,250 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Gustavus Adolphus College a hidden gem for Business?
After financial aid, the average student pays $107,580 over four years — 50% below the $217,240 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →