Computer Science at Gettysburg College

Gettysburg's computer science program produces solid mid-career outcomes—graduates earn $75,000 in their first year, placing them above the national median and well ahead of Pennsylvania's typical CS grad. While the state's powerhouses like Carnegie Mellon and Penn command six-figure starting salaries, Gettysburg sits comfortably in the middle tier, outperforming larger state schools. The debt picture is particularly favorable: at $27,000, graduates borrow slightly above the national average but right at Pennsylvania's median, while the 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment even on entry-level salaries.

The major caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, which means these numbers could shift considerably year to year as small liberal arts colleges naturally produce smaller CS cohorts. Still, the fundamentals make sense: a selective school (48% admission rate, 1350 SAT average) delivering respectable tech outcomes without crushing debt. For families comfortable with the inherent volatility of small program data, this represents a reasonable path into tech that doesn't require Ivy League competition or state school crowds. Just understand you're not getting elite tech recruiting on par with Carnegie Mellon, but you're also not gambling on an unproven program—the earnings place Gettysburg squarely in Pennsylvania's top half for computer science.