By Alli Dayton, Managing/News Editor and Ella Prieto, Staff Writer
From 2021 to 2022, Gettysburg College experienced fluctuation in US News & World Report’s 2022-2023 “Best Colleges” rankings.
During the 2021–2022 academic year, the College ranked 54. This year, the overall ranking dropped to 61.
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Jamie Yates noted that one of the reasons for the decrease was likely that US News & World Report changed its emphasis on different factors.
Students offered different perspectives on why they believed the College’s rankings decreased.
“Gettysburg does not do a good job supporting the students with resources,” said Rockia Sy ‘25
Ramouna Charlton ‘23 continued Sy’s perspective, stating that the College does not offer supportive resources, “especially with minority students.”
Another group of students suggested the decrease in off-campus housing opportunities as the reason for the decrease.
Mary Kate Hogan ‘25 said, “Because of Covid and [the lack of] off-campus housing, there have been things that make [students] upset, taking some appeal away [from the college].”
Dan Bailey ‘25 agreed, stating “Housing, [students] cannot live off campus,” as a reason for the updated rankings.
Other reasons students cited included tuition increases and faculty turnover.
Despite the overall decrease, Yates emphasized the college’s satisfaction with other rankings.
“We were pleased to see positive momentum in secondary rankings…in the ways that matter to us and our students the most,” said Yates.
To support this perspective, Yates provided other examples of some of the ranking increases from US News & World Report.
“We received a rank of #49 for Best Undergraduate Teaching,” she continued. “And we received a ranking of #53 as a Best Value College.”
October 3, 2022
When I applied to Gettysburg the acceptance rate was in the high 30s and the school was comfortably in the top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Now the acceptance rate is 56%. Maybe the college’s declining standards for admission has more to do with the change in the rankings than some vague and undefined lack of “supportive resources” for students.
October 3, 2022
I’m glad the college still has the effort to try and spin its failures. If only they spent more time and money on the academic rigor that actually increases rankings. Maybe cutting down on the bureaucratic bloat would free up some of both – Lord knows they would never recommend that though. Sad!
October 4, 2022
We need to get back to basics, people! What we need is EXTREME COMPETENCE.
October 4, 2022
Seems like there’s a few trolls in these comments. Make you wonder who some of these clowns are.
Gettysburg College should stick to what has made it special for almost two centuries, a true liberal arts education in a town that stands as a beacon of liberty in our nations history. The fickle and arbitrary opinion in the US News and Reports pale in comparison to a viable long term plan that recognizes this tradition while adapting to the needs of future generations. I trust my alma mater is up to the task.