Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
47.5% Acceptance Rate
Gettysburg College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
47.5%Acceptance Rate
1350Avg SAT
30Avg ACT
$80,400Annual Cost
$71,517Grad Salary
21%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
47.5%
Avg SAT
1350
Avg ACT
30
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1240–1460
ACT Middle 50%
27–32
Need-Based Aid
21% receive Pell
Gettysburg College, established in 1832 in Pennsylvania, is a prestigious liberal arts college with strengths in history, political science, and the arts. It ranks for alumni outcomes.
The campus includes a Civil War-era battlefield, research institutes, and performance spaces. Its location near D.C. provides internship and policy engagement opportunities.
Gettysburg College Acceptance Rate
At an acceptance rate of 47.5%, Gettysburg College rewards applicants who show real academic growth rather than a flawless transcript.
What Gettysburg College Admissions Looks For
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
- Test Scores Help: Where submitted, scores near or above the middle 50% strengthen an application.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 47.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Gettysburg College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Gettysburg College is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 107 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 15
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 15
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: April 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (Financial Aid Priority: 2025/11/15) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Gettysburg College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Gettysburg College's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Gettysburg College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Gettysburg College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Gettysburg College Without SAT or ACT?
Gettysburg College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Gettysburg College Average SAT Score: 1350
The average SAT score of admitted students at Gettysburg College is 1350 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1350 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1460 SAT or 32 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Gettysburg College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1240, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Gettysburg College. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 675 | 610 | 740 |
| SAT Reading | 675 | 630 | 720 |
| SAT Composite | 1350 | 1240 | 1460 |
Below 1240, you're behind most admitted students; at 1460 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1350
Can I get into Gettysburg College with a 1450 SAT?
A 1450 SAT puts you ahead of most of Gettysburg College's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Gettysburg College ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Gettysburg College is 30.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 30 — Very Competitive
An average of 30 is well above the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 27 | 23 | 31 |
| ACT English | 31 | 27 | 34 |
| ACT Composite | 30 | 27 | 32 |
Can I get into Gettysburg College with a 32 ACT?
A 32 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Gettysburg College's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Gettysburg College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Gettysburg College
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Gettysburg College rewards consistency. Being a top-quartile applicant here doesn't just help admission odds — it's usually what unlocks the strongest scholarship offers too.
Prioritize the Gilder Lehrman History Scholarship essay if it fits you
This supplemental scholarship essay is worth $48,000/year ($192,000 over four years) for history-minded applicants. Most families don't know it exists - ask admissions about it directly if history is a genuine interest.
Don't over-invest in a generic supplemental essay
Gettysburg's standard application doesn't require a supplemental essay beyond the Common App personal statement. Put that saved time into strengthening the personal statement instead.
Address test scores honestly if you're below the middle range
Gettysburg is test-optional with a middle-50% ACT range around 27-32. If your score sits below 27, lead with AP/IB rigor elsewhere in the application rather than submitting a weak score.
Only reference the battlefield location if your interest is real and specific
If you mention Gettysburg's Civil War setting, tie it to something concrete like the Civil War Institute, not generic "walking through history" language admissions readers see constantly.
Expert Insight:
Reviewers read a steady stream of essays that lean on the battlefield setting without engaging any actual academic program. That kind of scenic name-dropping reads as generic, not as genuine interest.
Gettysburg College Profile
Full Name
Gettysburg College
City
Gettysburg
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
17325
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Gettysburg College Degree Worth It?
Whether Gettysburg College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $84,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.78%.
How much does a degree from Gettysburg College Cost?
The sticker price is $80,400/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
21% of students receive a Pell Grant and 50.6% take federal loans at Gettysburg College — file your FAFSA early and list Gettysburg College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Gettysburg College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $71,517 — about 76% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Gettysburg College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1338 | 31 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 1323 | 29 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | 1304 | 29 |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 1301 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Gettysburg College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO | 1353 | 31 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 31 |
| Centre College | Danville, KY | 1345 | 29 |
| Bentley University | Waltham, MA | 1340 | 31 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Gettysburg College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 1403 | 31 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | 1396 | 32 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1392 | 31 |
Degree Programs at Gettysburg College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Gettysburg College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Gettysburg College run about $71,517 a year.
At about $80,400 a year, Gettysburg College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Gettysburg College's Pell Grant rate of 21.0% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 47.5%, Gettysburg College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
A strong SAT score matters at Gettysburg College — aim above 1350, ideally within the 1240–1460 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Gettysburg College is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Financial Aid Priority: 2025/11/15. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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