Gettysburg College

Private · Selective · PA

Photo: Jason Kowell (Public Domain)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationPA · Northeast

SettingRural

Undergrads2,099

Student:faculty10:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate75.1%

6-yr grad rate82.5%

Drop-out rate8.8%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$67k

Out-of-state tuition$67k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity38%

Gender diversity49.1%

International13.8%

Identity—

Overview

Gettysburg College is a liberal-arts college whose campus directly borders the Civil War battlefield, a setting that shapes both its academic identity and its everyday atmosphere -- dorm windows look out over ground where the battle was actually fought. Dwight Eisenhower's own farm, where he retired and later hosted world leaders, sits adjacent to the battlefield and campus, deepening the college's connection to a specific, unusually concentrated slice of American history. It offers a classic residential liberal-arts experience with particular strength in history and public policy.

Academics

History and public policy stand out at Gettysburg, aided directly by the battlefield setting and by the Eisenhower Institute, which connects students to Washington policy circles through internships and seminars bearing the president's name. Gettysburg is also one of relatively few liberal-arts colleges to offer a dedicated Civil War Era Studies major, letting students who come for the setting build an entire course of study around it. The Sunderman Conservatory gives the college a genuinely strong music program alongside solid offerings across the sciences, unusually robust for a school of Gettysburg's size.

Campus & student life

The battlefield borders campus and is woven into daily life, from history classes that walk the actual ground to students simply running or studying among the monuments on weekends. The residential campus supports a traditional small-college social scene centered on dorms, clubs, and a fairly prominent Greek life presence, and athletics compete at the Division III level. The town of Gettysburg itself is small and steeped in the same history, drawing a steady stream of tourists that students get used to sharing their college town with.

Getting in

Gettysburg's process is holistic, with attention to writing and to genuine interest in the college's history and public-policy strengths often standing out for applicants who name them specifically. Essays and demonstrated fit matter given how identity-driven programs like Civil War Era Studies and the Eisenhower Institute are, and students who can speak to why Gettysburg specifically tend to stand out in a crowded liberal-arts applicant pool.

After graduation

The Eisenhower Institute's Washington connections give history and public-policy graduates a real, well-worn pipeline into government, policy, and nonprofit work rather than a generic liberal-arts placement pattern. Music graduates from the Sunderman Conservatory also benefit from a program with an outsized reputation for a college of Gettysburg's size, and the college's small, engaged alumni network is especially useful for students headed into public history, museums, and policy fields.

Worth knowing

Few colleges anywhere have a setting as historically specific as Gettysburg's, and the battlefield genuinely shapes coursework and student identity, not just campus scenery. The Eisenhower Institute is a distinctive Washington-facing resource uncommon at small liberal-arts colleges, and prospective students should know the town's constant tourist traffic is simply part of daily life here, not an occasional novelty.

gettysburg.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate38.9%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1270–1460 · ACT 29–32

Test policyoptional

Rec letters2

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 15

Early decisionNov 1

Regular decisionJan 15

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App.

Early decision IIJan 20

Financial aid formsJan 15

Early Decision I and II are binding commitments to enroll if admitted, while Early Action and Regular Decision let you compare offers before deciding.

Interviews: On-campus interviews are available to prospective students but are not required.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗