Gettysburg recognizes students' academic achievement in high school by awarding four categories of merit scholarships.

A separate application is not required; decisions on merit scholarship recipients are made as part of the admissions process. Academic merit scholarships are awarded under Early Decision and Regular Decision.

The selection process for these scholarships is competitive with awards going to top-ranking applicants based upon grade point average, class rank (if available), and SAT or ACT scores.

• Abraham Lincoln Scholarships- $25,000 annually
• Presidential Scholarships- $15,000 annually
• David Wills Scholarships- $10,000 annually
• 1832 Founders Scholarships- $7,000 annually

Gettysburg students must achieve at least a 2.75 GPA at the end of the first year and a cumulative 3.00 GPA each subsequent year to maintain an academic scholarship. 

The Value of a Gettysburg Education

• Recognized by Kiplinger's Personal Finance as a "Best Value" among private colleges. Gettysburg placed 42nd thanks to our high four-year graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, good student-to-faculty ratio, excellent on-campus resources, and overall great value. 
• Gettysburg students have consistently earned Rhodes, Marshall and Goldwater scholarships, Fulbright grants and teaching assistantships and National Science Foundation fellowships.
• Within one year after graduation, 95% of new alums are employed or in graduate school. Extensive career networking opportunities are readily available.
• Over 80% of Gettysburg students graduate within four years, compared to the national average of 39%.
• Ninety percent of first-year students return as sophomores.
• Over the past five years, 22 full-time faculty have been added, achieving a student-faculty ratio of 10 to 1.
• Developing global citizens is a College goal - more than half of Gettysburg students spend a semester abroad.

How do Gettysburg’s academic merit scholarships and need-based financial aid awards work together?

Here are a few examples of how Gettysburg’s need-based financial aid awards may be affected if a student receives an academic merit scholarship.

Academic merit scholarships are renewable each year, provided students must maintain the following cumulative GPA requirements: 2.75 after their first year and 3.0 afterwards.

Example 1: Student is eligible for a $20,000 Gettysburg College Grant (based upon financial need) and is awarded a $10,000 David Wills Scholarship.
Financial Aid Award will include:

• $10,000 David Wills Scholarship
• $10,000 Gettysburg College Grant

Example 2: Student is eligible for a $10,000 Gettysburg College Grant (based upon financial need) and is awarded a $15,000 Presidential Scholarship
Financial Aid Award will include:

• $15,000 Presidential Scholarship

Please feel free to contact us with additional questions or use our Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate of need-based aid at Gettysburg.

On the results page of the Calculator, you will be able to recalculate your estimate based upon self-selecting one of Gettysburg's merit scholarships.

Gettysburg's admissions office determines merit scholarship recipients. Because of federal guidelines, merit scholarships are listed on financial aid awards and considered as a source of financial aid. 

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