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

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
48%
8,366 applicants
Avg SAT
1350
In-state tuition
$64,230
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$30,086
after aid, what families pay

Muhlenberg College is a private institution located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Muhlenberg College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 48%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1350 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $30,086 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Muhlenberg College is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for Muhlenberg College?

Admitted students at Muhlenberg College typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Muhlenberg College.

What does Muhlenberg College weight in admissions?

Muhlenberg College reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important4 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
Important7 factors
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • Volunteer work
Considered4 factors
  • First generation status
  • Geographical residence
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered3 factors
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

SAT and ACT scores Muhlenberg College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 680. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–32. 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 percentile
50th percentile1350
75th percentile
% submitting SAT%
ACT Composite
25th percentile27
50th percentile29
75th percentile32
% submitting ACT%
Current testing policy
  • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Considered if submitted

How much does Muhlenberg College actually cost?

Published tuition is $64,230 for in-state students and $64,230 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,530 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $30,086 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 21% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition$68,970
Room and board$16,670
Average net price (after aid)$30,086
Application fee$60 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Muhlenberg College

Regular admission
Reply deadlineMay 1

Will my child graduate from Muhlenberg College?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Freshman retention
91.1%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
null%
finished on time
6-year graduation
83%
finished within 6 years

Other colleges in Pennsylvania parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Muhlenberg College

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Muhlenberg College recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.

Common questions parents ask about Muhlenberg College

What GPA do I need for Muhlenberg College?

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

What SAT or ACT score does Muhlenberg College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 680. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–32.

How much does Muhlenberg College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Muhlenberg College after grants and scholarships is $30,086 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.

Is Muhlenberg College realistic for my child?

Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Muhlenberg College is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Muhlenberg College, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.