Rankings and Reputation

Gettysburg College is recognized nationally and ranks among top colleges in the country for our value, programs, and liberal arts experience.

The value of a Gettysburg education is underscored by the great work of our students and alumni who, by applying the knowledge and skills they gained here, are continuously making a positive impact on the world.

Princeton Review

Gettysburgians have proven themselves to be trailblazers of growth and innovation, and these efforts, combined with an enriching campus environment, have resulted in numerous recognitions by Princeton Review on its list of the Best 388 Colleges. This honor highlights the College’s prestigious and competitive climate, in academics and elsewhere.

  • No. 15 in ‘Best Campus Food’

    Fueling students’ minds and bodies with quality foods is a top priority for our award-winning Dining Services. In addition to the dining center, which Gettysburg students fondly refer to as ‘Servo,’ there are three other dining options on campus—The Bullet Hole, The Dive, and Commons Marketplace—which sell everything from made-to-order burgers and fries to sandwiches, snacks, Starbucks coffee, and freshly made smoothies. Recent additions include The Grille on Lincoln and Smart Eats.

  • No. 16 in ‘Students Study the Most’

    Both students and faculty at Gettysburg College are passionate about the great work they do, fully immersing themselves in high-impact learning experiences. In the fall of 2021, 76% of first-year students agreed that Gettysburg’s “very good academic reputation” was “very important” to them. By the time of graduation, nearly 70% of our students have completed at least one internship, nearly 60% have held at least one leadership position, and more than half have completed research with a faculty member or studied abroad for a semester or longer.

Additional recognition from Princeton Review

  • Best Value Colleges
  • Colleges That Create Futures
  • Green Colleges
  • Great Intramural Sports

Washington Monthly College Guide

Washington Monthly ranks four-year schools (national universities, liberal arts colleges, baccalaureate colleges, and master’s universities) based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and providing opportunities for public service. It also ranks “Best Bang for the Buck” colleges, which help non-wealthy students obtain marketable degrees at affordable prices.

  • No. 29 in liberal arts
  • No. 43 in “Best Bang for the Buck” colleges in the Northeast

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges

Outcomes, social mobility, graduation and retention rates, graduation rate performance, faculty resources, and expert opinion were some of the factors considered in the ranking of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges.

  • No. 61 in liberal arts
  • No. 54 in Best Value Schools
  • No. 49 in Best Undergraduate Teaching

Forbes

Alumni salary, student satisfaction, debt, American leaders (within Forbes’s database of successful leaders), on-time graduation rate, and academic success were considered in the ranking of Forbes Top Colleges.

  • Top Colleges: No. 44 in liberal arts

Money Magazine’s Best Colleges, Ranked by Value

Quality of education, affordability, and outcomes were considered in the ranking of Money Magazine’s Best Colleges.

  • No. 11 in liberal arts
  • No. 60 in nation

Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings

College resources, engagement with students, outcomes, and degree of environment inclusivity were considered in the ranking of Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education’s College Rankings of nearly 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

  • No. 47 in liberal arts
  • No. 122 nationally

The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE)

The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) reports college student participation in the 2020 presidential election, which also includes data on 2016 and 2018. It examines aggregate student participation in the most recent national election across categories like field of study, age, and sex.

  • Nearly 80% of Gettysburg College students voted in 2020, earning platinum status from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge—a national and nonpartisan initiative to encourage informed participation, citizenship, and civic learning in higher education. Only 47 colleges across the country received this platinum status distinction from more than 800 campuses that have joined the competition since its launch in 2016.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Best College Values

Student-to-faculty ratio, test scores of incoming students, graduation rates, and low student debt at graduation were considered in the ranking of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Best College Values. This ranking list is intended to recognize institutions that combine academic quality with affordability.

  • No. 41 among private liberal arts colleges
  • On list of America's 400 Best College Values

Payscale.com’s College Salary Report

The data used in PayScale’s College Salary Report is collected through Payscale’s ongoing, online compensation survey, where users provide information about jobs, compensation, employer, demographics and educational background. This data is used to examine early-career and mid-career salaries of alumni.

  • No. 20 in liberal arts

Learn why Gettysburg College graduates have outstanding post-college outcomes.

The Power of International Education (IIE) Open Doors Report, mid-length study abroad programs

Open Doors is a comprehensive information resource on students who study abroad as part of their academic experience. The data in this annual report are obtained through surveying approximately 1,800 accredited U.S. higher education institutions who award credit for study abroad. At Gettysburg College, nearly 60% of our students study abroad for at least one semester.

  • No. 1 in PA
  • No. 2 in the nation

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution

Each year, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces the top-producing institutions for the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program. Gettysburg College was recognized as Top Producing Institution for receiving one grant and submitting seven applications in 2021. The Fulbright Program was established more than 75 years ago to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright is the world’s largest and most diverse international educational exchange program.

The Georgetown University Center on Education & the Workforce ROI Study: ROI of Liberal Arts Colleges

Using data from the expanded College Scorecard, this report ranks 4,500 colleges and universities by return on investment. Through this study, Georgetown University found that the ROI for liberal arts institutions is well below the median for all colleges at the 10-year horizon, but well above the median for all colleges 40 years after enrollment.

  • No. 50 among liberal arts colleges based on 10-year ROI
  • No. 33 among liberal arts colleges based on 40-year ROI

Fiske Guide to Colleges

Led by former New York Times education editor Edward B. Fiske, the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2023, named the No. 1 bestselling college guide, provides prospective students and their parents student testimonials and helpful information, including academic offerings, costs, “quality-of-life” ratings, acceptance rates, and more. It is recommended widely by high school college counselors.

  • On list of 300+ “best and most interesting” four-year colleges in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom