Allegheny College
#8 Best Communications Colleges in Pennsylvania- Graduation Rate
- 70% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $62,069 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $22,940 D+
- 34% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 55% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.7 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Communications Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $20.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,806,614.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 52% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Allegheny College Matters
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college in Meadville, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,156
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 71
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose Allegheny College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 55% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1173–1358. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,940 a year after grants and scholarships — 34% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $62,069 ten years after enrolling — 52% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 57% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.68 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 1,156 students and a 55% acceptance rate, Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, caters to those looking for a personalized education experience in a tight-knit community. Students here engage in a range of studies, from Biology and Biomedical fields to Psychology and Business. This diversity in top programs speaks to a balanced academic environment that can accommodate various interests and career goals.
After graduation, students from Allegheny can expect an average earning of $62,069 within ten years. This figure highlights the potential for financial stability, especially for those who pursue careers in fields like Computer Science and Business. The affordability of the college is also noteworthy, with 28% of students receiving Pell Grants, indicating that the school is accessible for those who may need financial support.
When we look at the cost after aid, the net price sits at $22,940, and the median debt for graduates is $27,000. While this may seem like a substantial amount, many students thrive in this environment, often benefiting from smaller class sizes and dedicated faculty. The supportive atmosphere tends to attract those who are motivated and willing to engage deeply in their education, setting the stage for meaningful personal and professional growth.
Rankings
- #8 Best Communications Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #12 Best Biology Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #18 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #18 Best Bachelor's Programs in Pennsylvania
- #18 Best Master's Programs in Pennsylvania
- #20 Best Computer Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #20 Best Data Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #27 Best Psychology Colleges in Pennsylvania
Can I Get In?
How selective Allegheny College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Allegheny College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,275. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 1275
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 1173–1358
- ACT Range
- 25–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 79%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,582
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.50
- First-Gen Students
- 22%
- Applicants
- 4,148
- Admitted
- 2,889
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Allegheny College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 14% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 14%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 31%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 9%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 49.6%
- vs 82.5% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 135 Early Decision applicants, 67 were admitted — a 49.6% admit rate, roughly 0.6× the 82.5% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 41% of the entering class (67 of 163 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 40% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Allegheny College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Allegheny College is $56,550, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,940. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,495 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $56,550
- Out-of-State
- $56,550
- Avg Net Price
- $22,940
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 56%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,495
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $27,718
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,059
- Family Income $110K+
- $30,046
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Allegheny College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Allegheny College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Allegheny College earn a median of $62,069, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,603
- 8 Years
- $56,341
- 10 Years
- $62,069
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (322)
- 68%
- 100% (322)
- 68%
- 100% (322)
- 68%
- 100% (322)
- 68%
How Allegheny Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Allegheny College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Allegheny College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,940/year ($91,760 total). Graduates earn $62,069 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,898,374 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,806,614 (20.7× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 70% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $91,760
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,898,374
- Net Return
- $1,806,614
- ROI Multiple
- 20.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $22,940
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Allegheny College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Allegheny College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.34%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $102,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.34%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 35.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $139,669
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,259,917
- Investment Income
- $-35,372,456
Top Programs
The fields Allegheny College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Biology & Biomedical 19% $36,562 early-career
- Social Sciences 11% $48,819 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10%
- Psychology 10% $33,863 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Communications 5% $35,593 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $39,121 early-career
- Physical Sciences 4%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Allegheny College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Allegheny College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,275. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Allegheny College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Allegheny College is $56,550, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,940. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,495 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Allegheny College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Allegheny College earn a median of $62,069, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Allegheny College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Allegheny College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.34%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $102,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Allegheny College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Allegheny College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Allegheny College offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Allegheny College offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 50%, about 0.6 times the overall 83% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 41% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Allegheny College is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Allegheny College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 40% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Allegheny College (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Allegheny College?
About 14% of admitted students choose to enroll at Allegheny College — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Allegheny College.
- Russell Sage CollegeTroy, NY · Close peer59% grad $58,316 earn 53% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobe, PA · Close peer70% grad $59,982 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of DallasIrving, TX · Close peer70% grad $58,285 earn 53% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hendrix CollegeConway, AR · Close peer71% grad $60,376 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Austin CollegeSherman, TX · Close peer68% grad $61,296 earn 48% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Washington CollegeChestertown, MD · Close peer70% grad $65,518 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Allegheny College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Allegheny College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note