Gettysburg College

Gettysburg College's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences — a signature that reflects the institution's liberal arts identity and emphasis on analytical, humanistic, and social-scientific inquiry. Political Science is the largest program with 76 graduates, followed by Economics, Business Administration, Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences, and Research Psychology.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 750 students annually, the institution demonstrates breadth in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences typical of selective liberal arts colleges. The earnings pattern reflects the program mix.

Economics leads with median earnings of $94,295 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $84,973, Political Science at $76,597, Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences at $75,320, and Biology, General at $68,383. These outcomes span both direct-to-workforce pathways — particularly in business and quantitative fields — and graduate-school-dependent programs in the sciences and humanities where four-year earnings undercount the trajectory of graduates who continue to advanced study.

Gettysburg College's strength lies in combining liberal arts breadth with solid early-career outcomes across multiple fields. The concentration in Social Sciences (representing 25% of graduates) alongside meaningful shares in Business (9%) and Arts (5%) positions the college as a well-rounded institution where students can pursue intellectual interests while maintaining access to competitive labor-market outcomes.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national wage trends and hiring demand.

Gettysburg College's published cost of attendance is $81,960, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $13,625; middle-income families pay around $21,261; higher-income families pay approximately $44,863.

Azimuth ranks Gettysburg College #1321 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Gettysburg College's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid packages combining grants, loans, and work-study to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.

Most admitted students receive some form of financial aid, and the college's aid-awarding process uses the FAFSA and CSS Profile to assess demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,999, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $62,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $72,658, median federal debt of $26,999 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Gettysburg College earn median 4-year earnings of $72,658, placing Gettysburg College in the 73.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Gettysburg College #273 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

These outcomes reflect a liberal arts institution where social sciences dominate the degree portfolio, anchoring long-term financial outcomes in fields like economics, political science, and history that build toward stable mid-career earnings trajectories. The earnings pattern centers on Social Sciences, which represents the largest concentration of degrees at Gettysburg College.

Political Science is the largest program with 76 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $76,597, at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Economics program graduates 74 students earning $94,295, and the The Business Administration program graduates 69 students earning $84,973.

Together, these programs reflect Gettysburg College's curricular focus on humanities and social inquiry, with earnings outcomes that align with the regional labor market and the liberal arts model of broad analytical preparation rather than specialized technical training.