Gustavus Adolphus College was founded in 1862 in St. Peter, Minnesota. Located in the majestic Minnesota River Valley, the college’s beautiful 340-acre campus is relatively secluded. In addition to being a private, coeducational institution, the college is also grounded in its Lutheran and Swedish heritages and is united with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
We love Gustavus Adolphus College because it prides itself on being guided by the five core values of excellence, community, justice, service, and faith. As stated on their official website, an important part of Gustavus Adolphus College’s Mission Statement is as follows:
“…The College aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people. It is a community where a mature understanding of the Christian faith and lives of service are nurtured and students are encouraged to work toward a just and peaceful world.”
“The purpose of a Gustavus education is to help its students attain their full potential as persons, to develop in them a capacity and passion for lifelong learning, and to prepare them for fulfilling lives of leadership and service in society…”
As a liberal arts institution, Gustavus Adolphus College offers its students Bachelor of Arts degrees. With 72 diverse majors from 24 academic departments to choose from, students considering Gustavus Adolphus College have many opinions available to them!
The program that Gustavus Adolphus College is, arguably, best known for, is the Three Crowns Curriculum. Like most college curriculums, the Three Crowns Curriculum focuses on General Education, the student’s Major, and the student’s Electives. However, what makes this program different is the emphasis on truly allowing students to challenge themselves intellectually and otherwise by actively taking part in “discussion-oriented courses.” In groups, students participate in these special courses by reflecting on life, society, their individuality, and more!
According to the Gustavus Adolphus College official website, “the Three Crowns Curriculum makes the idea of connection paramount. We emphasize connections between disciplines; between ideas and values; between past and present; between learning and life; between students and faculty; and between students themselves.”
Keeping with the university’s value of the importance of connection and inclusion, the average class size is about 17 students and the student to faculty ratio is 11:1. – These smaller class sizes create a wonderful learning atmosphere for the proactive student, looking to make lasting relationships with peers and educators.
Gustavus Adolphus College also has amazing study abroad, Fine Arts, and computer/networking programs, as well as over 30 intramural activities, 9 club sports, and 12 women’s and 11 men’s intercollegiate sports.
As far as on campus living goes, over 2,200 students decide to take advantage of the college’s residential accommodations, which include 14 traditional residence halls and apartment/town home neighborhoods and 5 individual homes!
If you are looking for a challenging yet intimate educational experience, rooted in the principles of leadership, faith, and community, Gustavus Adolphus College may be perfect for you!
For more information: https://gustavus.edu/about/
