

Springfield, OHprivate nonprofitwittenberg.edu
Admit rate has ranged 91%–97% over the last 5 years. 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.
Wittenberg University is a small, Lutheran-affiliated liberal arts college in Springfield, Ohio, where nearly three-quarters of applicants get in—but those who stay find a tight-knit community with strong Greek life, a 97% career outcomes rate, and an emphasis on writing and critical thinking. With business, biology, and communications as its most popular majors, Wittenberg offers a classic residential college experience where almost half the students join fraternities or sororities.
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
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.
Wittenberg University is far from selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 72.3% to 91% depending on the reporting source—well above the national average. Admitted students typically have SAT scores between 1020–1270 or ACT scores of 20–27, placing Wittenberg in the 'less selective' category. The university does not offer early admission, and wait-listed students are occasionally admitted. Notably, over 98% of enrolled students receive financial aid, with average freshman aid packages around $42,525.
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.
Wittenberg emphasizes writing, critical thinking, and research skills across its liberal arts curriculum. The most popular majors are business, biology, and communications, reflecting a practical bent within the liberal arts framework. The university offers graduate programs like a Master of Arts in Education and a Master of Science in Analytics, but the focus remains on undergraduate education. Princeton Review notes Wittenberg’s 'high academic standards and dedication to research', with small class sizes fostering close faculty interaction.
Life at Wittenberg revolves around its residential campus, where students live in dorms, houses, or apartments. Greek life is a major draw, with 45% of students joining fraternities or sororities. The university promotes a faith-inclusive environment (though Lutheran-affiliated) and emphasizes sustainability. Niche reviews describe a friendly atmosphere with ample extracurriculars, from arts to wellness programs. Dining services and health resources are prominently featured, reinforcing the school’s focus on a self-contained community.
Wittenberg’s 6-year graduation rate hovers around 54–58%, below the national average for private colleges, but those who persist fare well: the university reports a 97% career outcomes rate (employment or grad school within six months). Median earnings six years post-graduation are $42k, rising to $55k after ten years. Graduates typically carry $27k in median debt, slightly lower than the national average for private institutions. Pell Grant recipients graduate at a 38% rate, indicating challenges for lower-income students.
Wittenberg’s sticker price is offset by generous aid: 98% of students receive scholarships or financial assistance, totaling over $40 million annually. The average freshman aid package is $42,525, with international students averaging $32,150. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator suggests significant discounts for most applicants, though the university’s modest graduation rates may affect long-term ROI. Merit scholarships and need-based grants are widely available, making the actual cost far below the published tuition for many families.
Wittenberg offers a classic small-college experience with a few modern twists: its analytics master’s program appeals to career-focused students, while its Lutheran heritage (without doctrinal rigidity) shapes campus culture. The 97% outcomes rate is impressive for a non-elite school, suggesting strong alumni networks and career services. Yet its low graduation rates and high acceptance rate signal a mismatch—this is a college for students who thrive in a supportive, socially active environment, not those seeking cutthroat academics or name-brand prestige.