
Elizabethtown, PAprivate nonprofitwww.etown.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 77%–86% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Elizabethtown College is a small, private liberal arts school in Pennsylvania with a tight-knit, residential vibe—over 85% of students live on campus. Known for its strong graduation rates (69% four-year, 77% six-year) and a curriculum blending liberal arts with professional programs like business and music, it offers a supportive, community-focused education at a net price of $27,019 for most students.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Elizabethtown College is moderately selective, with a 78% acceptance rate (3,624 applicants, 2,822 admitted in recent cycles). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1110–1300 on the SAT or 26 on the ACT, with an average high school GPA of 3.67. Notably, the college is test-optional, allowing applicants to omit standardized scores. The admissions process emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., and the school awards over $30 million annually in scholarships and grants.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Etown offers 56 majors and 100+ minors, with standout programs in business, music, and interdisciplinary studies. The music major emphasizes performance, theory, and history, while the business program is among the most popular. The curriculum balances liberal arts with pre-professional tracks, supported by a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. Unique offerings include interdisciplinary majors like Biological and Environmental Sciences and Asian Studies. The college emphasizes hands-on learning through research, internships, and cross-cultural study opportunities.
Life at Etown revolves around its residential campus, where 85% of students live (78% in college-owned housing). The 204-acre campus fosters a close-knit community, with students describing it as 'friendly' and 'supportive'. Activities range from research and internships to over 60 clubs and organizations. The Dean of Students office cultivates a 'culturally vibrant' environment, though some note the social scene is quieter compared to larger schools. Nearby Lancaster offers off-campus dining and entertainment, but most socializing happens on campus.
Etown outperforms national averages with a 69% four-year graduation rate (77% six-year), ranking in the 99th percentile among peers. Alumni earn a median salary of $36,427 one year post-graduation. The college touts strong retention, with Forbes praising its 76% graduation rate for online human services students. Career support includes internships and research opportunities, though earnings lag slightly behind elite liberal arts colleges.
The total sticker price is $53,440, but the average net price drops to $27,019 after aid (65.74% of students receive assistance). Scholarships like the Excelsior ($21,500) and Founders ($18,500) significantly offset costs. Institutional grants average $6,500, and the college meets 100% of demonstrated need for some students. For precise estimates, the school recommends using its Net Price Calculator.
Elizabethtown combines the intimacy of a liberal arts college (12:1 ratio, 85% on-campus living) with practical outcomes (69% four-year grad rate). Its Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policy and $30M+ annual aid pool make it accessible, while programs like music and business blend creativity and career readiness. The campus culture is its secret sauce—students call it 'welcoming' and 'collaborative', with a vibe that’s more 'cozy' than 'competitive.' For those seeking a small-school feel with strong graduation metrics, Etown delivers.