Head-to-head comparison
Gettysburg College vs Muhlenberg College: which has better ROI?
Option A Gettysburg, PA
Gettysburg College
- Net price / year
- $31,490
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,517
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Option B Allentown, PA
Muhlenberg College
- Net price / year
- $28,905
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,107
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Gettysburg College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,960 in 5.4 years versus 5.6 years at Muhlenberg College, on median earnings of $71,517 vs $69,107 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gettysburg College | Muhlenberg College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,490 | $28,905 |
| Total net cost | $125,960 | $115,620 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,517 | $69,107 |
| Median debt | $26,999 | $25,455 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $337,180 | $299,320 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Gettysburg College or Muhlenberg College?
Muhlenberg College, at $28,905 a year after aid versus $31,490 — a gap of $2,585 a year, or $10,340 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Gettysburg College or Muhlenberg College graduates earn more?
Gettysburg College graduates report a median $71,517 ten years after entry, $2,410 more than the $69,107 at Muhlenberg College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Gettysburg College or Muhlenberg College?
Muhlenberg College: its completers carry a median $25,455 in federal loans versus $26,999 at Gettysburg College, a difference of $1,544. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Gettysburg College, against 82% at Muhlenberg College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.