Gustavus Adolphus College is tied as the best national liberal arts college in Minnesota for social mobility and ranks second best in the state for undergraduate teaching, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 rankings, which were released today.
“Gustavus is committed to providing a high-quality education to talented students regardless of their family’s economic circumstances,” Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission Richard Aune ’81 said. “Once students are on campus, we surround them with a supportive network of faculty, staff, and peers who keep students on track to graduate in four years.”
According to the publication’s listing of the Top Performers on Social Mobility, “some colleges are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.” At Gustavus, the four-year graduation rate for Pell Grant-eligible students is the same (and in some years, slightly higher) than the College’s overall graduation rate of 80 percent. Gustavus shares the best in Minnesota ranking (#51 nationally) with ELCA sister school Concordia Moorhead.
Gustavus also ranks second in the state and 30th in the nation among liberal arts colleges for “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” trailing only Carleton College in Minnesota. To compile the list, U.S. News & World Report “asked top academics to name the schools that they think have faculty with an unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.”
“Our high ranking for undergraduate teaching reflects the College’s lasting commitment to connecting students with world-class faculty to build personal relationships in classrooms, laboratories, and recital halls,” Aune said. “Pairing small, discussion-based courses with hands-on research opportunities prepares students to hit the ground running in graduate school or the professional world.”
The College was also ranked among the Top 100 in the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” (#84) and liberal arts “Best Value” (#55) lists. A full list of rankings, along with methodology and analysis, is available online.