On a recent visit, Lisa toured Gettysburg College and found a campus rich in history, strong, academics, and understated charm.

Located in central Pennsylvania, not too far from the Maryland border, is a small liberal arts college set right next to the national park commemorating the battle of Gettysburg. In fact, the college, founded before the Civil War in 1832, was used as a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers, leading to rumors that the college’s oldest buildings are haunted, including a freshman dorm, which is visited by the spirit of a young boy who died by accidentally falling out of a building window. 

The college is also right next to an adorable small town with shops and restaurants that serve the many tourists who come to visit the area every year. It adds to the charm and the historical ambiance of the school.

Academics and Student Experience at Gettysburg College

Gettysburg is dedicated to the mission of being a small liberal arts college with 2,200 students and small seminar-style classes. Students and professors develop close relationships, which allows students access to summer internships and research projects, often at the school itself.  Gettysburg guarantees a “career-ready” experience for every student before they graduate, tailored to the specific needs of their major. Gettysburg also requires the completion of a capstone project to graduate.

Guided Pathways Program and Unique Opportunities

Gettysburg recently began to offer the Guided Pathways program, which now enrolls 80% of the students. It provides students with an advising team, including one person dedicated to helping the student find the best extracurricular activities.  It also contains some unique programs, such as its Conservatory of Music (which is audition-based), the Center for Public Service, the Civil War Institute, the Leadership Center, and the Eisenhower Institute, which was developed because President Eisenhower moved to and worked at Gettysburg College in his retirement years.

Popular Majors, Admissions, and Student Profile

The most popular majors are business, economics, a new finance major, psychology, political science, and public policy. Thirty percent of their students are varsity athletes, and they’ve added three new sports–women’s wrestling, acrobatics and tumbling, and flag football. Twenty-six percent  of students identify as people of color. About 40% of students participate in Greek life. The admissions department is looking for curious students who demonstrate academic interest or passion through their experiences. The school is selective but accessible to many students.  Gettysburg is need-aware but offers generous merit aid, so that no one really pays sticker price.

Dining, Campus Life, and Student Amenities

A special note must be made about the dining options at Gettysburg. The dining hall food is truly excellent, and the school earns its Princeton Review rankings for the best food options. I can attest personally that eating cinnamon chai mousse is a revelatory experience. Also, Gettysburg provides airport shuttles to all of the closest airports throughout the year, making it a much more accessible location than it might appear from looking at a map.

Campus Facilities and Housing Updates

The campus is a mix of the old and the new. The white buildings on campus are the oldest, dating from the Civil War era, and, if ghosts exist, are definitely haunted, especially the buildings that were used as hospitals for soldiers.

Financial Outlook and Future of Gettysburg College

Gettysburg may also be haunted by some financial concerns. Compared to peer institutions, it seems to have renovated and built new buildings at a slower rate. Gettysburg, stable for now,  faces the same challenges as all small liberal arts colleges, but must play its cards right if it’s going to make it through the decline in the teenage population (which is predicted to happen through 2036) unscathed. The director of admissions noted that the delay in building new dorms has cost them some students–but new dorms are on the way. Some of the building interiors have a well-loved, almost high school feel–but not necessarily in that charming historic way. 

Final Thoughts: Is Gettysburg College a Good Fit?

That being said, Gettysburg offers a high-quality educational experience that may be overlooked by some because of its lack of razzle-dazzle. Perhaps it was the ghosts, but I felt the school had a really positive, good energy, one of those schools I loved without fully being able to articulate why. Gettysburg is like your really modest friend who is actually brilliant and undersells themselves, and I hope that, like your friend, Gettysburg leans into its strengths and starts bragging a little bit more.

Trying to figure out if a campus like Gettysburg is the right fit? Download our Campus Vibe Reflection Workbook to help your student evaluate each visit with confidence.