Gettysburg College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2025-2026

  • Test-optional
  • Early Decision
  • Early Decision II
  • Early Action
7,928
Applicants
3,178
Admitted40%
497
Enrolled
16%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Selective40% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Avg SAT
1379
In-state tuition
$71,730
per year, before aid (CDS 2025-2026)
Net price (avg)
$31,490
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #54 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Economics #196 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Gettysburg College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.

Is Gettysburg College a reach, target or safety for your student?

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Quick answer

Gettysburg College is a private nonprofit university in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that admits about 40% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $31,490 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Political Science and Government, Economics and Business Administration, Management and Operations, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 79% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 11.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Gettysburg College is a private institution located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Gettysburg College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 40%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1379 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $31,490 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Gettysburg College?

Admitted students at Gettysburg College typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Gettysburg College.

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What does Gettysburg College weight in admissions?

Gettysburg College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

Very Important

4
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations

Important

7
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • Volunteer work

Considered

4
  • First generation status
  • Geographical residence
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest

Not Considered

3
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

How Gettysburg College reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores Gettysburg College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 680. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentilen/a
50th percentile1379
75th percentilen/a
% submitting SAT23%
ACT Composite
25th percentile27
50th percentile30
75th percentile32
% submitting ACT5%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Test-optional (since 2006); choose on the Common App member screen. Self-reported scores accepted.
  • • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Gettysburg College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class42%
Top 25% of class75%
Top 50% of class95%
% submitting class rank%

How much does Gettysburg College actually cost?

Published tuition is $66,640 for in-state students and $66,640 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,110 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $31,490 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 21% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition$71,730
Room and board$17,340
Average net price (after aid)$31,490
Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need90%
Average need-based grant$58,230
Average merit award, no financial need75 first-year students received one$41,099
Graduates who borrowed68%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$36,243
Financial aid formsFAFSA and CSS ProfileCollege Board 2026-27 list
Application fee$60 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Gettysburg College

Regular admission
Reply deadline5/1
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 15
Offers Early Decision IIYes
ED II deadlineJanuary 15
ED acceptance rate (all rounds)38%
Offers Early ActionYes
EA deadlineDecember 1

Will my child graduate from Gettysburg College?

These predict outcomes at Gettysburg College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
90.9%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
73.71%
finished on time
6-year graduation
79%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Gettysburg College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Gettysburg College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Political Science and Government, Economics and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, Gettysburg College confers roughly 454 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Political Science and Government program report a median income of about $79,444 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Political Science and Government76$79,444
Economics74$103,735
Business Administration, Management and Operations69$102,369
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences66$86,150
Research and Experimental Psychology51n/a
Biology, General42$61,403
History42$51,857
English Language and Literature, General34$58,130
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Gettysburg College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Gettysburg College disclosed 23 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 11.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 12 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
23
11.0 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
4
1.91 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
12
5.72 per 1,000
Burglary
5
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 2,099 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Gettysburg College?

In Greek life, 26% of men join a fraternity and 32% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Classes under 20 students
65%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
0%
of course sections
In fraternities
26%
of men
In sororities
32%
of women
From the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Gettysburg College.

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Common questions parents ask about Gettysburg College

What GPA do I need for Gettysburg College?

Admitted students at Gettysburg College typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.

What SAT or ACT score does Gettysburg College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 680. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32.

How much does Gettysburg College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Gettysburg College after grants and scholarships is $31,490 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $66,640. Budget against the net figure.

Is Gettysburg College realistic for my child?

Gettysburg College admits 40% of applicants, so 630–740 SAT Math is target range and below 630 is a reach. Then check the $31,490 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Gettysburg College?

Gettysburg College accepts about 40% of applicants out of roughly 7,928 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.

Is Gettysburg College test-optional?

Yes. Gettysburg College is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at Gettysburg College?

About 79% of students at Gettysburg College graduate within six years, and 74% finish in four years. 91% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Gettysburg College?

Gettysburg College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 38%, compared with its overall rate of 40%. The ED rate is not materially higher here, so weigh the binding commitment carefully.

What does Gettysburg College look for in applicants?

Gettysburg College rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is Gettysburg College a public or private school, and where is it located?

Gettysburg College is a private nonprofit institution located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

What are the most popular majors at Gettysburg College?

The largest undergraduate majors at Gettysburg College by annual graduates are Political Science and Government, Economics and Business Administration, Management and Operations. The school awards about 454 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Gettysburg College safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Gettysburg College reported 23 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 11.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

What is campus life like at Gettysburg College?

At Gettysburg College, 26% of men are in fraternities, 32% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Gettysburg College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers