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Emily and Stephen Schumacher HouseEmily and Stephen Schumacher House · Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near St. Peter

St. Peter is a college town: 21 of every 100 residents are students

Gustavus Adolphus College (1,951 students on campus) is inside the city. Across Minnesota, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town21% of residents are studentsGustavus Adolphus College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of St. Peter. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
16,803 students on campus
Nearest college
0.5 mi
Gustavus Adolphus College
Residents in college
21%
Above MN (6%)
Nearest community college
11.4 mi
South Central College · $6,146 tuition
Nearest public university
12.7 mi
Minnesota State University-Mankato · $9,572 in-state
Students on campus in St. Peter
1,951
next to 12,275 residents

What stands out about college in St. Peter

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town21 of every 100 St. Peter residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.A college in St. PeterGustavus Adolphus College has 1,951 students on campus in St. Peter, 77% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 11.4 miles awaySouth Central College in North Mankato: tuition and fees $6,146 a year for Minnesota residents.In-state price at Minnesota State University-MankatoLiving in Minnesota, Minnesota State University-Mankato charges $9,572 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,942. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in St. Peter

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

21 of every 100 St. Peter residents are in college (MN: 6).

1,951students on campus at Gustavus Adolphus College, next to 12,275 residents (dorm students count as residents)
619college students live in St. Peter households rather than dorms
35.6median age · MN 38.8
35%of homes rented · MN 28%
$961median rent · 25% below the state
Cost of living$961/mo median rentB−SafetyCrime reported to the FBIA−HealthCDC estimatesB+Jobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundB−HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change St. Peter’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income B−

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 16.6% of St. Peter residents are below the poverty line, 16.7% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 3 points either way). 15% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living B−

The Cost grade counts the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving it out only where students are a quarter of residents or more. Here they are 21%, so student incomes still weigh on that figure.

Health B+

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and St. Peter’s median age is 35.6 (Minnesota 38.8), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety A−

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of St. Peter

Two private colleges within 11.3 miles, one public college within 12.7 miles, and South Central College 11.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miMinnesota State University-MankatoGustavus Adolphus CollegeSouth Central CollegeSt. Peter
University or collegeCommunity college
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,951 on campus · In St. Peter61%admitted$23knet price77%graduate$66kearningsBethany Lutheran CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 765 on campus · 11.3 mi · Mankato39%admitted$20knet price55%graduate$46kearningsSouth Central CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,762 on campus · 11.4 mi · North Mankato$9knet price39%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $6,146 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Minnesota State University-MankatoUniversity or college · Public · 12,325 on campus · 12.7 mi · Mankato88%admitted$19knet price54%graduate$57kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where St. Peter’s median household income ($65,122) falls.

South Central College11.4 mi · North Mankato · sticker $15,401 · tuition $6,146$9,368a year
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeIn St. Peter · sticker $67,613$13,875a year
Minnesota State University-Mankato12.7 mi · Mankato · sticker $23,995$15,137a year
Bethany Lutheran College11.3 mi · Mankato · sticker $41,013$17,233a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of St. Peter: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Gustavus Adolphus CollegeBethany Lutheran CollegeSouth Central CollegeMinnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato54% graduate$57k earnings$21k typical debt
Gustavus Adolphus College77% graduate$66k earnings$27k typical debt
South Central College39% graduate$45k earnings$12k typical debt
Bethany Lutheran College55% graduate$46k earnings$23k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in St. Peter

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Gustavus Adolphus College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 13%Biology 11%Psychology 8%Parks & recreation 7%Social sciences 7%Visual & performing arts 7%Everything else 48%

Biggest programs

Psychology, General58 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Biology, General54 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness48 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, General46 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Communication and Media Studies32 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing32 graduates a year
$86k4 yrs out
Economics31 graduates a year
$91k4 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and Research29 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in St. Peter

Is St. Peter a college town?

Yes. 21 of every 100 St. Peter residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Minnesota. Gustavus Adolphus College has 1,951 students on campus, next to 12,275 residents.

What colleges are in St. Peter?

Gustavus Adolphus College is inside the city. South Central College is 11.4 miles away in North Mankato.

What is the closest community college to St. Peter, and what does it cost?

South Central College in North Mankato, 11.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,146 a year for Minnesota residents; the federal net price, $9,082, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into Gustavus Adolphus College?

Gustavus Adolphus College admitted 61% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year.

Neighbors talk college

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of St. Peter. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →