Acceptance Rate
39%
Avg. SAT
1460
75th percentile
“Step onto a campus scarred by Civil War bullets, where history majors debate amid actual battlefield echoes.”
Gettysburg, PA
Location
Town
Campus Setting
You'll arrive at Gettysburg College in the shadow of the bloodiest battle in American history, a place founded in 1832 by the German Reformed Church as Pennsylvania College and forever changed when Confederate troops stormed its buildings during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The college renamed itself in 1921 to honor that legacy, turning tragedy into a defining ethos—students here don't just study the past; they walk it daily on grounds that double as a national military park. Thrive if you're a curious leader who craves tight-knit discussions and service projects over urban anonymity; picture collaborative types who organize volunteer weekends amid apple orchards and rolling hills. The vibe feels earnest and traditional, like a family reunion with a side of intellectual rigor, but trade that for isolation—Gettysburg's a tourist-packed small town of 8,000, where chain stores are scarce and Friday nights mean bonfires, not bustling bars.
Photo Gallery
+34
+26
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In classrooms capped at 20, you'll dissect Thucydides alongside profs who know your name and push you into original research from freshman year, fueled by a 10:1 ratio that means no hiding in lectures. History and political science dominate, with the Civil War Institute drawing scholars to dissect archives in Schmucker Hall—once a field hospital—while the Sunderman Conservatory lets music majors compose amid liberal arts peers, a rare blend. Sciences shine too, from environmental studies tracking battlefield ecology to neuroscience labs with undergrads publishing papers. Expect hands-on intensity over hand-holding; the intellectual culture rewards self-starters, but if you need flashy facilities or massive research grants, larger state schools outpace it.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
2,104 undergrad • 708 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
69%
Black / African American
5%
Hispanic / Latino
10%
Asian
3%
Other / Multi-racial
14%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Gettysburg, PA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week kicks off with Monday seminars, segues to club meetings—pick from ultimate frisbee to Model UN—then Friday football under the lights, where the Blue Goose mascot rallies 2,500 screaming fans. Campus hums with 120 organizations, moderate Greek life (20% join), and all-freshman dorms fostering instant bonds, but weekends often spill into service trips or D.C. road games rather than ragers. Traditions like lighting the Chapel cupola for big wins or the holiday Christman festival knit everyone together in this residential haven. Positives abound in the supportive bubble, yet challenges hit hard: brutal Pennsylvania winters bury paths in snow, the social scene skews tame (no big-city clubs), and the tourist influx clogs roads, testing patience for small-town charm.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Centennial Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$14,178
$30K – $48K
$17,048
$48K – $75K
$25,060
$75K – $110K
$31,980
$110K+
$40,343
Apply for Financial Aid
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
91%
4 Years Graduation Rate
79%
6 Years Graduation Rate
82%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$71,517
91% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Gettysburg College and return in the fall. 79% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 82% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
79%
4-6 years
3%
Non-grad
18%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$61,760
Acceptance
39%
Undergrads
2,104
4-Year Grad Rate
79%
Endowment
$287M
Gettysburg, PA 17325