Gettysburg College
#4 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania- Graduation Rate
- 83% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $71,517 A
- Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $31,490 F
- 84% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 39% A
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,774,394.
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 75% more than the national college median.
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A 83% graduation rate — 45% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Gettysburg College Matters
Gettysburg College is a private liberal arts college in Gettysburg, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
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
- 2,099
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose Gettysburg 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
Selective — admits about 39% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1270–1460. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $31,490 a year after grants and scholarships — 84% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $71,517 ten years after enrolling — 75% above the typical college, against $26,999 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 87% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Gettysburg College, with an enrollment of around 2,100 students, is a great fit for those who thrive in a close-knit, liberal arts environment. The college stands out for its strong emphasis on social sciences, biology, business, psychology, and the arts. Students can expect a rigorous academic experience that encourages exploration across disciplines, fostering a well-rounded education that prepares them for various career paths.
When we look at life after graduation, the numbers are promising. Alumni earn a median salary of $71,517 within ten years of graduating, which is a solid return on investment. This kind of earning potential indicates that a Gettysburg degree can open doors, especially for those who move into fields related to their studies. The affordability factor is also worth noting, as the financial aid landscape makes this institution accessible to a wide range of students.
The practical side of attending Gettysburg involves a net price of $31,490 after aid, with a median debt of $26,999 for graduates. This means that while we should be mindful of student loans, the debt load is manageable, especially when weighed against the earning potential. Students who tend to thrive here are those who appreciate a collaborative environment and seek an education that balances academic rigor with personal growth.
Rankings
- #4 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #10 Best Psychology Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #10 Best Biology Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #11 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in Pennsylvania
- #11 Best Master's Programs in Pennsylvania
- #12 Best Computer Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #12 Best Data Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
Can I Get In?
How selective Gettysburg 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 Gettysburg College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Gettysburg College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 39%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,379. The graduation rate is roughly 83%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Retention Rate
- 91%
- SAT Average
- 1379
- ACT Midpoint
- 30
- SAT Range
- 1270–1460
- ACT Range
- 29–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 81%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,433
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 14%
- Applicants
- 5,796
- Admitted
- 3,264
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 Gettysburg College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Gettysburg College is $66,640, 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 $31,490. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,625 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,999 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $66,640
- Out-of-State
- $66,640
- Avg Net Price
- $31,490
- Median Debt
- $26,999
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 48%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,625
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,184
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,261
- Family Income $110K+
- $44,863
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Gettysburg College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Gettysburg College earn a median of $71,517, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $57,274
- 8 Years
- $66,428
- 10 Years
- $71,517
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.38x
- Earning > $25K
- 75%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (575)
- 80%
- 100% (575)
- 80%
- 100% (575)
- 80%
- 100% (575)
- 80%
How Gettysburg 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 Gettysburg College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Gettysburg College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $31,490/year ($125,960 total). Graduates earn $71,517 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,900,354 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,774,394 (15.1× your investment). The median debt is $26,999, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 83% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $125,960
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,900,354
- Net Return
- $1,774,394
- ROI Multiple
- 15.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $31,490
- Median Debt
- $26,999
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 83%
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 Gettysburg College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Gettysburg College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.82%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 1.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 43.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $138,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.82%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 43.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 1.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $138,500
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $9,542,702
- Investment Income
- $-2,864,650
Top Programs
The fields Gettysburg College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Social Sciences 21%
- Biology & Biomedical 15%
- Business & Marketing 14%
- Psychology 10%
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
- English & Literature 4%
- Physical Sciences 3%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Gettysburg 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
- 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
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Gettysburg College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Gettysburg College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 39%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,379. The graduation rate is roughly 83%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Gettysburg College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Gettysburg College is $66,640, 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 $31,490. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,625 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,999 in federal student loans.
Is Gettysburg College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Gettysburg College earn a median of $71,517, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Gettysburg College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Gettysburg College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.82%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 1.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 43.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $138,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Gettysburg 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 Gettysburg College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Gettysburg College.
- Dickinson CollegeCarlisle, PA · Close peer82% grad $70,204 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Furman UniversityGreenville, SC · Close peer80% grad $68,635 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, IL · Close peer78% grad $70,871 earn 39% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Whitman CollegeWalla Walla, WA · Close peer81% grad $67,589 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Connecticut CollegeNew London, CT · Close peer83% grad $75,001 earn 37% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Kenyon CollegeGambier, OH · Close peer84% grad $71,830 earn 31% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Gettysburg 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 Gettysburg College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note